How to use “Give” and “Receive” in Japanese?

Are you confident in using “give” and “receive” in Japanese?

It may not be as easy as you think! πŸ˜‰

But no worries!

Just watch this video, and you can use them perfectly! ✨😊✨

 

Give and Receive in Japanese

Let’s imagine a situation like this.

 

 

Ms. Oda gave a present to Mr. Tanaka.

γŠγ γ•γ‚“γ―γ€€γŸγͺかさんに γƒ—γƒ¬γ‚Όγƒ³γƒˆγ‚’ γ‚γ’γΎγ—γŸγ€‚

Oda san wa Tanaka san ni purezento wo agemashita.

 

If we describe this situation from Mr. Tanaka’s perspective.

Mr. Tanaka received a present from Ms. Oda.

たγͺγ‹γ•γ‚“γ―γ€€γŠγ γ•γ‚“γ‹γ‚‰/に γƒ—γƒ¬γ‚Όγƒ³γƒˆγ‚’ γ‚‚γ‚‰γ„γΎγ—γŸγ€‚

Tanaka san wa Oda san kara/ni purezento wo moraimashita.

 

There are two possible particles to show who gave a present.

たγͺγ‹γ•γ‚“γ―γ€€γŠγ γ•γ‚“γ‹γ‚‰ γƒ—γƒ¬γ‚Όγƒ³γƒˆγ‚’ γ‚‚γ‚‰γ„γΎγ—γŸγ€‚

Tanaka san wa Oda san kara purezento wo moraimashita.

 

たγͺγ‹γ•γ‚“γ―γ€€γŠγ γ•γ‚“γ« γƒ—γƒ¬γ‚Όγƒ³γƒˆγ‚’ γ‚‚γ‚‰γ„γΎγ—γŸγ€‚

Tanaka san wa Oda san ni purezento wo moraimashita.

 

Give and Receive Sentence structure

Give (something) to (someone)

(someone) に (something) を あげます

(someone) ni (something) wo agemasu

 

Receive (something) to (someone)

(someone) から (something) を もらいます

(someone) kara (something) wo moraimasu

or

(someone) に (something) を もらいます

(someone) ni (something) wo moraimasu

 

We usually don’t say this…

Please be careful!

Imagine this situation.

 

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I gave a present to Mr. Tanaka.

たγͺかさんに γƒ—γƒ¬γ‚Όγƒ³γƒˆγ‚’ γ‚γ’γΎγ—γŸγ€‚

Tanaka san ni purezento wo agemashita.

Β 

Grammatically, it’s possible to make a sentence like this.

Mr. Tanaka received a present from me.

たγͺγ‹γ•γ‚“γ―γ€€γ‚γŸγ—γ‹γ‚‰/に γƒ—γƒ¬γ‚Όγƒ³γƒˆγ‚’ γ‚‚γ‚‰γ„γΎγ—γŸγ€‚

Tanaka san wa watashi kara/ni purezento wo moraimashita.

Β 

But we don’t say this often.

So please avoid using it.

Β 

γγ‚ŒγΎγ™ “Give to me”

In the Japanese language, we have another “Give”

We have the special word, “γγ‚ŒγΎγ™ kuremasu,” which means “give to me”Β 

Β 

Β 

Mr. Tanaka gave a present to me.

たγͺかさんは (γ‚γŸγ—γ«) γƒ—γƒ¬γ‚Όγƒ³γƒˆγ‚’ γγ‚ŒγΎγ—γŸγ€‚

Tanaka san wa (watashi ni) purezento wo kuremashita.

*As “γγ‚ŒγΎγ™ kuremasu” means “give to me,” you don’t have to mention “γ‚γŸγ—γ« watashi ni.”

Β 

But the good news is, “receive” is always “もらいます moraimasu.”😊

Β 

I received a present from Mr. Tanaka.

γ‚γŸγ—γ―γ€€γŸγͺかさんから/に γƒ—γƒ¬γ‚Όγƒ³γƒˆγ‚’ γ‚‚γ‚‰γ„γΎγ—γŸγ€‚

Watashi wa Tanaka san kara/ni purezento wo moraimashita.

Β 

It’s simple, isn’t it? πŸ˜‰

Β 

Recap: Give and Receive in JapaneseΒ 

In the Japanese language, we have two Give verbs.

Give あげます agemasu

and

Give to me

γγ‚ŒγΎγ™ kuremasu.

Β 

But we have just one “Receive” in Japanese.

もらいます moraimasu.

Β 

Just be careful, as there are two particle options to indicate who the giver is.

Β 

Receive (something) from (someone)

(someone) から (something) を もらいます

(someone) kara (something) wo moraimasu

or

(someone) に (something) を もらいます

(someone) ni (something) wo moraimasu

Β 

Happy learning!

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