A gift or present is the transfer of money or goods without requiring something in return (at least not immediately); by extension it can be anything that makes the other more happy or less sad, especially as a favor, including forgiveness, and kindness (even when the other is not kind).
The extent to which the clause "without requiring something in return" really applies may vary. Reciprocity is common and often socially almost compulsory. Some economists have elaborated the economics of gift-giving into the notion of a gift economy.
Gifts are an important element of Chinese social relations and the act of mutually exchanging gifts is intended to increasing social cohesion.
A gift can also be a special talent or ability that was not earned through the usual amount of long and difficult practice but instead comes easily to the recipient in a natural way. A person with such a gift is said to be "a natural" or "gifted" in that field of endeavor. A gift, in this sense, can be thought of as being given by God or by nature: a God-given or natural gift received by one at birth. A fluent and entertaining speaker is said to have "the gift of gab".
