歳暮

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The written form is 歳暮, read せいぼ. This noun refers to a year-end gift or greeting offered to someone who has provided help.
• Basic usage: お歳暮を贈る uses the polite form for sending a gift, while 歳暮用の詰め合わせ modifies gift sets intended for year-end giving.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A gift for someone helpful
  • A year-end gift is sent to someone who has been helpful. Example: 世話になった方へお歳暮を贈った。 — I sent a year-end gift to someone who had helped me.
• Gift sets appearing in stores
  • Stores begin displaying assortments intended as year-end gifts. Example: 店頭に歳暮用の詰め合わせが並び始めた。 — Gift sets for the end of the year began appearing in stores.