Understanding the Concept of Giving and Receiving in Japanese: Ageru,
Kureru, and Morau (あげる、くれる、もらう)
In Japanese, the words for “giving” and “receiving” are more nuanced. While
many languages have a single term for giving and receiving, Japanese divides
them into two distinct verbs for “giving”: ageru (あげる) and
kureru (くれる). Both words mean “to give,” but they are used
differently depending on who is giving and who is receiving. This article will
explain how to use ageru, kureru, and
morau (もらう) in various contexts.
Let’s get started!
1. Using Ageru (あげる) – When Yоu Gіvе Sоmеthіng to Someone Else
In Japanese, ageru is used when the speaker (you) are giving something to
someone else. It’s pretty straightforward. You treat it like a regular verb,
and you can even use it with the ~te form to indicate that you’re doing
something for someone.
Examples:
-
私は友達に本をあげる
Watashi wa tomodachi ni hon o ageru
I give a book to my friend. -
彼に古い帽子をあげます
Kare ni furui boushi o agemasu
I will give him an old hat. -
兄に手作りのマフラーを作ってあげます
Ani ni tedukuri no mafuraa o tsukutte agemasu
I will make a handmade scarf for my older brother. -
私の親友に旅行のチケットをあげるつもりです
Watashi no shinyuu ni ryokou no chiketto o ageru tsumori desu
I intend to give my best friend a travel ticket.
2. Using Kureru (くれる) – When Someone Elѕе Gives Something tо You
Now, kureru is used when someone else is giving something to you. In contrast
to ageru, which focuses on the speaker as the giver, kureru puts the focus on
the person giving something to the speaker. Like ageru, you can also use it
with the ~te form.
Examples:
-
ケイトさんは私に素晴らしい絵をくれました
Keito-san wa watashi ni subarashii e o kuremashita
Kate gave me a wonderful painting. -
彼は私に面白い映画を見せてくれた
Kare wa watashi ni omoshiroi eiga o misete kureta
He showed me an interesting movie. -
リサさんが私に新しい時計を買ってくれてありがとう
Risa-san ga watashi ni atarashii tokei o katte kurete arigatou
Thank you, Lisa, for buying me a new watch. -
先生が私にこの問題を説明してくれて助かりました
Sensei ga watashi ni kono mondai o setsumei shite kurete
tasukarimashita
I appreciate the teacher for explaining this problem to me.
3. Using Morau (もらう) – When You Receive Something
The verb morau means “to receive” and is used when the
speaker is receiving something from someone. Unlike ageru and
kureru, which focus on giving,
morau emphasizes receiving. It can also be used with the ~te
form to show that you are receiving an action from someone.
-
同僚から新しいジャケットをもらった
Douryou kara atarashii jaketto o moratta
I received a new jacket from my colleague. -
妹から誕生日プレゼントをもらいました
Imouto kara tanjoubi purezento o moraimashita
I received a birthday gift from my younger sister. -
彼女に素敵なディナーを作ってもらう
Kanojo ni suteki na dinaa o tsukutte morau
I receive a lovely dinner (she is cooking for me). -
友達に助けてもらった
Tomodachi ni tasukete moratta
I received help from my friend.
Quick Recap of Ageru, Kureru, and Morau
| Verb | Usage | Who is the Giver? | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ageru | Giving something to someone | You (the speaker) | 私は友達に本をあげる (I give a book to my friend) |
| Kureru | Receiving from someone | Someone else | ケイトさんは私に素晴らしい絵をくれました (Kate gave me a wonderful painting) |
| Morau | Receiving something | You (the receiver) | 同僚から新しいジャケットをもらった (I received a new jacket from my colleague) |
Key Differences:
- Ageru is used when you give something to someone else.
- Kureru is used when someone else gives something to you.
- Morau is used when you receive something from someone else.
Vocabulary List:
| Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 先生 | せんせい | sensei | teacher |
| 辞書 | じしょ | jisho | dictionary |
| 帽子 | ぼうし | boushi | hat |
| スカーフ | すかーふ | sukaafu | scarf |
| 本 | ほん | hon | book |
| 絵 | え | e | painting |
| 映画 | えいが | eiga | movie |
| 時計 | とけい | tokei | watch |
| プレゼント | ぷれぜんと | purezento | gift |
| ディナー | でぃなー | dinaa | dinner |
| 友達 | ともだち | tomodachi | friend |
| 助ける | たすける | tasukeru | to help |
Now you have a deeper understanding of how to use ageru,
kureru, and morau in Japanese with unique
and varied examples! These concepts may seem a bit tricky at first, but
practice will make you more confident. If something is unclear, feel free to
ask in the comments. Don’t forget to share this article if you think it’s
helpful! See you in the next article! See you in the next post!
