礼物
gift; present
lǐwù
What does 礼物 mean?
礼物 (lǐwù) is the standard Chinese word for a gift or present — something you give to mark a relationship, occasion, or thanks. It covers birthday presents, holiday gifts, and souvenirs. The most common verbs are 送 (sòng, 'give as a gift') and 收 (shōu, 'receive'): 送礼物 means 'give a gift,' 收礼物 means 'receive one.' Do NOT use 给 (gěi) here — 给 means 'hand over' and sounds transactional.
Cultural note: Chinese gift-giving etiquette is layered. Refusing a gift once or twice before accepting is polite; opening it in front of the giver is less common than in the West; clocks (送钟 sounds like 送终, 'attending a funeral') and pears (梨 sounds like 离, 'separate') are traditionally avoided. The character 礼 means 'ritual / etiquette' and 物 means 'thing' — a gift is literally a 'ritual thing.'
Character breakdown
ritual; etiquette; gift
thing; object
Memory hook: 礼物 = 'ritual thing' — a gift is the object that performs a social ritual.
Measure word for 礼物
Example sentences
这是给你的生日礼物。
Zhè shì gěi nǐ de shēngrì lǐwù.
This is your birthday gift.
spoken
我想送妈妈一个礼物。
Wǒ xiǎng sòng māma yí ge lǐwù.
I want to give my mom a gift.
neutral
谢谢你的礼物，我很喜欢。
Xièxie nǐ de lǐwù, wǒ hěn xǐhuan.
Thank you for the gift, I really like it.
polite
她收到了很多礼物。
Tā shōu dào le hěn duō lǐwù.
She received a lot of gifts.
neutral
Common phrases with 礼物
Synonyms
礼品 is more formal/commercial — used on packaging, in shops (礼品店, 'gift shop'), and corporate contexts. 礼物 is the everyday personal word.
红包 ('red envelope') is specifically money given as a gift — for Lunar New Year, weddings, birthdays. 礼物 is the umbrella term that can include items, money, or experiences.