N4Lesson 37 of 437 min
Giving and receiving
あげる, くれる and もらう: three verbs where English has two, and the difference is who benefits.
English uses "give" regardless of direction. Japanese splits it in two depending on whether the thing moves away from you or toward you, and getting this wrong is one of the more noticeable beginner errors.
| Verb | Direction | Structure | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| あげる | me → someone else | 私は Xに Yを あげる | I give X a Y |
| くれる | someone else → me | Xは 私に Yを くれる | X gives me a Y |
| もらう | I receive from X | 私は Xに/から Yを もらう | I receive a Y from X |
- 私は友達にプレゼントをあげました わたしはともだちにプレゼントをあげましたवाताशि वा तोमोदाचि नि पुरेज़ेन्तो ओ अगेमाशिताI gave my friend a present
- 友達が私に本をくれました ともだちがわたしにほんをくれましたतोमोदाचि गा वाताशि नि होन ओ कुरेमाशिताMy friend gave me a book
- 友達に本をもらいました ともだちにほんをもらいましたतोमोदाचि नि होन ओ मोराइमाशिताI received a book from my friend
Giving actions as well as objects
Attach these to the て form and they describe doing something for someone. This is how Japanese expresses favours, and it is used constantly.
- 友達が手伝ってくれました ともだちがてつだってくれましたतोमोदाचि गा तेत्सुदात्ते कुरेमाशिताMy friend helped me: literally "gave me the helping"
- 先生に教えてもらいました せんせいにおしえてもらいましたसेन्सेइ नि ओशिएते मोराइमाशिताThe teacher taught me
- 手伝ってくれませんか てつだってくれませんかतेत्सुदात्ते कुरेमासेन काCould you help me? (a natural, soft request)