祝い

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 祝い (いわい) is a noun for celebration of a happy event or a gift presented for that occasion.
• Basic usage: 合格の祝いに贈る marks a successful examination as the occasion for giving a gift, while 新築祝いを持つ treats a housewarming gift as the item brought on a visit.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Celebratory occasion and gift
  • 合格の祝い centers on the act or occasion of celebrating, whereas 新築祝い denotes a concrete gift brought to the home. Not every use of 祝い refers to an object.