Formal to Acquaintance
Cultural · Gift
You
先日はお心遣いいただきありがとうございました。こちら、ほんのお礼のしるしです。
せんじつはおこころづかいいただきありがとうございました。こちら、ほんのおれいのしるしです。
Thank you for your thoughtful gesture the other day. This is just a small token of my appreciation.
Romaji: Senjitsu wa o-kokorozukai itadaki arigatou gozaimashita. Kochira, honno o-rei no shirushi desu. / Reply Romaji: Iya, souiu go-shinsetsu wa...
Reply
いや、そういうご親切は…
いや、そういうごしんせつは…
Oh, you really didn't need to...
Gesture & etiquette
Present the gift with both hands and a slight bow. The recipient will likely say they don't deserve it — accept this modesty graciously and do not insist they open it in front of you.
「お返し」(okaeshi) is the custom of returning a gift of roughly half the original value, typically within one to two weeks. 「ほんの」downplays the gift's value to avoid appearing boastful — this modesty is culturally expected even when the gift is substantial.