Japanese/Lessons/Giving and Receiving

There are several ways to express giving and receiving depending on which side the speaker is on, but also depending on whether someone of higher or lower rank is being addressed. Giving thumb|360px|This schematic illustrates the various verbs for giving and receiving. When expressing that someone gives to someone else (but not you), use the form of: (Giver) はが (Receiver) に (object) を 差 さ し上 あ げる。 上 あ げる。 やる。The verb "やる" is rather disrespectful and would only be used by boys joking with each other. When others give you, use either: (Giver) はが (you) に (object) を 下 くだ さるくれる 私 わたしは先生 せんせいに本 ほんを差 さ し上 あ げます。 // I give the teacher the book. 私 わたしは妹 いもうとにお菓子 かしをあげる。 // I give my sister candy. (plain present) 私達 わたしたちは猫 ねこにボールをあげた。 // We gave the cat a ball. (plain past) 彼女 かのじょは先生 せんせいに林檎 りんごをあげます。 // The girl gives an apple to the teacher. (polite present) 友達 ともだちはお母 かあさんにカードをあげました。 // My friend gave his mom a card. (polite past) The polite form is "くださる" while "くれる" is of neutral politeness and most commonly used. You will often use this verb when you've gotten something from someone who isn't currently there. 先生 せんせいは私 わたしに本 ほんを下 くだ さいました。 // The teacher gave me a book. あなたは私 わたしにビデオをくれる。 // I get a video from you. 岸子 きしこは私 わたしにマンガをくれた。 // I received a manga from kishiko. Receiving When expressing that someone receives from someone else, use a form of: (Receiver) はが (Giver) にから (object) を 頂 いただ く貰 もら う. Although に is slightly more casual, you can use both に and から when you receive some physical objecs. For actions, you can only use に. Use から when you wish to emphasize the giver. クリスマスが来 き たら、お婆 ばあちゃんに新車 しんしゃをもらうと思 おも う。 // When Christmas comes, I think I'll get a new car from grandma. (plain form) 誕生日 たんじょうびに、梓 あずさはお父 とうさんから250,000円をもらったそうです！ // For her birthday, I heard that Azusa received 250,000 yen from her dad! (polite form)In this case, 誕生日に、梓はお父さん"から"～ may be better because you can avoid "に、... に" form 彼女 かのじょは王子 おうじと結婚 けっこん したら、女王 じょおうに多 おお くの宝石 ほうせきをもらいます。 // When she marries the prince, she will receive many jewels from the queen. (polite form) お母 かあさんに新 あたら しいパソコンをもらいました！ // I got a new computer from my mother! (polite form) The verb いただく is a humble verb, and is used when you receive something from a superior or wish to show respect. Example: 私 わたしは先生 せんせいにペンをいただきました。 // I received a pen from the teacher. Actions When the object being given or received is an action (and thus expressed by a verb) you can attach use it in the て-form in place of the object. (Giver) は (Verb in 〜て form) (Verb of giving)。 (Receiver) に (Verb of receiving)。 Note that for receiving an action, you cannot use "から". Examples for giving, "I washed the car for her," or, "I did the laundry for him." Here are some examples in Japanese: 私 わたしはアパートの掃除 そうじをしてあげました。 // I cleaned the apartment (for him/her). (polite form) 私 わたしは晩 ばんご飯 はんを作 つく ってあげた。 // I made dinner (for him or her). (plain form) Examples for receiving, "The dentist examined my teeth for me," or "Mom cleaned up my room for me." Here are some examples: 医者 いしゃに診 み てもらいました。 // The doctor examined me (for me). (polite form) 彼氏 かれしに新 あたら しい車 くるまを買 か ってもらった！ // My boyfriend bought a new car for me! (plain form) Notes and references See also Japanese/Grammar/Politeness deep