Written with the kanji 贈 (zō/okuru), composed of 貝 (shell/money) and 曾 (layer upon layer), suggesting the giving of valuables. The native Japanese reading *okuru* shares its sound with 送る ("to send"), and historically the two words overlapped — both carry the sense of dispatching something toward another person, but 贈る carries the nuance of offering something with goodwill or ceremony.

Gift-giving (贈り物, okurimono) is a deeply embedded social ritual in Japan. There are two major nationwide gift-giving seasons: お中元 (o-chūgen, mid-summer, around early-to-mid July) and お歳暮 (o-seibo, year-end). Giving the right item in the right packaging to the right person is taken seriously — department stores dedicate entire floors to it. Note that 贈る is distinct from あげる (ageru), which is more casual; 贈る implies a degree of formality or heartfelt intention.