Giving and receiving
あげる, くれる and もらう.
Japanese has three verbs for giving and receiving, and the choice depends on who gives to whom, seen from the speaker's side.
| Verb | Who gives | Who receives | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| あげる | I, or anyone | Someone other than me | 妹に本をあげた。I gave my sister a book. |
| くれる | Someone else | Me, or someone close to me | 友達が本をくれた。A friend gave me a book. |
| もらう | Someone, marked with に or から | The subject: me, or anyone | 友達に本をもらった。I got a book from a friend. |
The same gift can be told two ways: 友達が本をくれた "A friend gave me a book" and 友達に本をもらった "I got a book from a friend".
- Watashi wa imōto ni tanjōbi purezento o agemashita.I gave my younger sister a birthday present.
- Chichi ga tokei o kuremashita.My father gave me a watch.
- Tomodachi kara hana o moraimashita.I got flowers from a friend.
Polite versions
| Verb | Polite version | Used when |
|---|---|---|
| あげる | さしあげる | You give to someone above you |
| くれる | くださる | Someone above you gives to you |
| もらう | いただく | You receive from someone above you |
くださる becomes くださいます in the ます form, and ください is its request form, which is where てください comes from. For giving to animals and plants, やる is used: 花に水をやる "water the flowers".
- Sensei ni jisho o itadakimashita.My teacher gave me a dictionary.Literally: I humbly received a dictionary from the teacher
Doing favors: with the て form
The same verbs after a て form describe actions done as a favor:
- てあげる: do something for someone.
- てくれる: someone does something for me.
- てもらう: have someone do something for me.
- Tomodachi ga eki made okutte kuremashita.My friend took me to the station.
- Haha ni shashin o totte moraimashita.I had my mother take a photo for me.
- Otōto no shukudai o tetsudatte agemashita.I helped my younger brother with his homework.
Saying てあげる to someone above you can sound as if you're doing them a favor. To offer help, use ましょうか: 持ちましょうか "Shall I carry it?"
Cards from this guide
10 cardsEach card asks about one thing this guide teaches, and its back gives the answer with why and an example. They're reviewed with the rest of the Longer sentences cards.
Which everyday verb is for giving away from your side, as in 'I gave my sister a book'?
あげる
Which everyday verb says that someone gives something to you, or to someone close to you?
くれる
Which particles mark the giver with もらう (receive)?
に or から.
What's the polite verb for giving to someone above you?
さしあげる, the polite あげる.
What's the polite verb for someone above you giving something to you?
くださる, the polite くれる.
What's the polite verb for receiving something from someone above you?
いただく, the polite もらう.
Which giving verb is traditionally used for animals and plants, as in watering flowers?
やる
What does a て form + あげる mean?
Do something for someone.
What does a て form + くれる mean?
Someone does something for me, as a favor.
What does a て form + もらう mean?
Have someone do something for me.