Receiving Things with Gratitude (もらう)
もらう when you are the subject receiving a gift or favor from another person.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use {貰う|もらう} to express that you receive something from someone, marking the giver with {に|ni} or {から|kara}.
- Use {に|ni} for a specific person: {友達にプレゼントをもらいました|ともだちにぷれぜんとをもらいました} (I received a gift from a friend).
- Use {から|kara} for emphasis or organizations: {会社からボーナスをもらいました|かいしゃからぼーなすをもらいました} (I received a bonus from the company).
- The verb {貰う|もらう} is the humble/neutral way to say 'receive' or 'get'.
Overview
Japanese grammar profoundly reflects interpersonal relationships and social hierarchy. The verb もらう (貰う), meaning "to receive" or "to get," is a cornerstone of this linguistic system. Unlike a neutral English statement like "I got a book," もらう inherently frames the action from the receiver's perspective.
This imbues the transaction with a sense of gratitude, benefit, or even a subtle obligation towards the giver. もらう places you, the recipient, as the grammatical subject, spotlighting your experience of gaining something. It functions as a linguistic acknowledgment of a beneficial social exchange, emphasizing the interconnectedness vital in Japanese communication.
Mastering もらう is crucial for expressing politeness, appreciation, and effectively navigating social dynamics at the A2 level and beyond.
How This Grammar Works
もらう unequivocally centers the recipient; the sentence's grammatical subject is the individual who もらうs, directly benefiting from the action. This perspective distinguishes もらう from あげる (giver-centric) and くれる (giver-to-speaker). Employing もらう articulates that the receiver (you or your in-group) has acquired an item or favor.- The Receiver, who is the subject, is marked by the topic particle
は(wa) or the subject particleが(ga). This emphasizes who benefits. - 例:
私{わたし}はプレゼントをもらった。(I received a present.) - The Giver is identified using either
に(ni) orから(kara). These particles specify the origin. - Use
にfor specific individuals, animals, or direct agents, implying a personal, direct exchange. This is common for people you interact with. - 例:
友達{ともだち}に本{ほん}をもらった。(I received a book from a friend.) - Use
からfor organizations, groups, abstract entities, or impersonal sources. It emphasizes origin, distance, or depersonalizes the giver, common for institutions. - 例:
会社{かいしゃ}から給料{きゅうりょう}をもらった。(I received my salary from the company.) - While both
にandからmark the source,にhighlights the agent (the giver), whileからemphasizes the origin (the source). For example,先生{せんせい}にアドバイスをもらった(from a teacher, agent) versus郵便局{ゆうびんきょく}から手紙{てがみ}をもらった(from the post office, origin). - The Object being received is marked by the direct object particle
を(o). This clearly identifies what was obtained. - 例:
彼{かれ}にお土産{みやげ}をもらった。(I received a souvenir from him.)
私{わたし}は先生{せんせい}にペンをもらった ("I received a pen from the teacher") makes your receipt the central event, implicitly acknowledging the teacher's generosity.Formation Pattern
もらう consistently place the receiver as the subject. The basic declarative structure is:
[Receiver] は/が [Giver] に/から [Object] を もらう
もらう based on tense, politeness, and grammatical function, like other Japanese verbs. The following table illustrates its primary conjugations:
もらう (morau) | もらいます (moraimasu) | receive, will receive |
もらった (moratta) | もらいました (moraimashita) | received |
もらわない (morawanai) | もらいません (moraimasen) | do not receive, will not receive |
もらって (moratte) | N/A | receiving, having received |
もらえる (moraeru) | もらえます (moraemasu) | can receive, be able to receive |
もらおう (moraō) | もらいましょう (moraimashō) | let's receive, intend to receive |
いただく (itadaku) | いただきます (itadakimasu) | humbly receive, accept (superior) |
いただいた (itadaita) | いただきました (itadakimashita) | humbly received, accepted (superior)|
て-form (～てもらう): This critical structure signifies that you received the favor of someone performing an action for you. It explicitly highlights your benefit from the other person's action. Example: 先生{せんせい}に作文{さくぶん}を直{なお}してもらった。 (I had the teacher correct my essay for me.) Here, you are the recipient of the action of correcting, not just an object.
いただく): いただく is the designated humble equivalent of もらう. Its use is mandatory when receiving from a superior (e.g., boss, teacher, elder, client) or someone to whom you wish to show significant deference. It conveys heightened respect. In highly formal contexts, 拝受{はいじゅ}する (拝受する) can be an even more humble alternative for receiving documents. Example: 部長{ぶちょう}に重要{じゅうよう}な情報{じょうほう}をいただきました。 (I humbly received important information from my department manager.)
もらえる): This form expresses the ability to receive. When combined as ～てもらえる, it implies the possibility or benefit of someone doing something for you. This forms the basis for polite requests like ～ていただけませんか.
～てもらう and いただく, is key to expressing gratitude and navigating social hierarchies effectively.
When To Use It
もらう is employed across many situations, unified by the receiver gaining a benefit or experiencing a positive outcome from an item or action provided by another. Its pervasive use reflects a Japanese cultural emphasis on acknowledging interpersonal exchanges.- 1Receiving Tangible Objects: This is the most direct application. Acquire a physical item from someone, especially a gift, loan, or benefit, using
もらう. The act of receiving is foregrounded.
- 例:
母{はは}からセーターをもらった。(I received a sweater from my mother.)
- 1Receiving Intangible Concepts or Services:
もらうextends beyond physical goods to abstract benefits: information, advice, praise, permission, or any non-physical assistance.
- 例:
先輩{せんぱい}に仕事{しごと}のコツを教{おし}えてもらった。(My senior colleague taught me work tips. / I received the favor of my senior colleague teaching me work tips.)
- 1Expressing Gratitude, Benefit, or Mild Obligation: An inherent connotation of
もらうis gratitude for the received item or service. Using it implicitly communicates appreciation and can suggest a subtle obligation, common in Japanese social interactions.
- 例:
A: これ、よかったら使{つか}って。(If you like, please use this.)B: ありがとう！もらいます。(Thank you! I'll take it/receive it.) - 例:
友達{ともだ}ちに引{ひ}っ越{こ}しを手伝{てつだ}ってもらったから、今度{こんど}お礼{れい}にご飯{はん}を奢{おご}るよ。(Since my friend helped me move, I'll treat them to a meal next time as thanks.)
- 1When the Receiver is the Explicit Focus:
もらうis chosen when your act of receiving is the primary subject, even if the giver is self-evident or unstated. The sentence is constructed around the recipient's experience.
- 例:
日本{にほん}で素敵{すてき}な経験{けいけん}をさせてもらった。(I was allowed to have a wonderful experience in Japan.)
- 1With Te-form (
～てもらう) for Received Favors: This is a cornerstone for expressing received assistance. It specifies that you benefited from someone doing an action for you, foundational for expressing gratitude for help rendered.
- 例:
子供{こども}に宿題{しゅくだい}を手伝{てつだ}ってもらった。(I had my child help me with my homework.)
もらう when describing an act of receiving from the recipient's viewpoint, acknowledging the positive impact of that receipt. It is an indispensable tool for conveying social grace and maintaining harmonious interpersonal dynamics.Common Mistakes
もらう is essential for natural and accurate communication.- 1Confusing
もらうwithくれる: This is the most prevalent error, as both relate to receiving but are distinct in their grammatical perspective.
もらう: The receiver is the grammatical subject. You or another specific person receives something.- 例:
私{わたし}は友達{ともだち}にプレゼントをもらった。(I received a present from my friend.) くれる: The giver is the grammatical subject, and the action is directed towards the speaker or their in-group. Someone else gives to you.- 例:
友達{ともだち}が私{わたし}にプレゼントをくれた。(My friend gave me a present.) - The Mistake: Translating
Morau Conjugation Table
| Form | Casual | Polite |
|---|---|---|
|
Non-past
|
もらう
|
もらいます
|
|
Past
|
もらった
|
もらいました
|
|
Negative
|
もらわない
|
もらいません
|
|
Te-form
|
もらって
|
もらって
|
Meanings
The verb {貰う|もらう} indicates that the speaker or subject receives an object or a service from another person.
Receiving physical objects
Getting a tangible item from someone.
“{彼に花をもらいました|かれにはなをもらいました}”
“{先生にペンをもらいました|せんせいにぺんをもらいました}”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
GiverにItemをもらう
|
友達に本をもらう
|
|
Negative
|
GiverにItemをもらわない
|
友達に本をもらわない
|
|
Question
|
GiverにItemをもらう？
|
友達に本をもらう？
|
|
Past
|
GiverにItemをもらった
|
友達に本をもらった
|
Formality Spectrum
プレゼントをいただきました。 (Receiving a gift)
プレゼントをもらいました。 (Receiving a gift)
プレゼントもらった。 (Receiving a gift)
プレゼントゲット！ (Receiving a gift)
The Flow of Receiving
Giver
- 友達 Friend
- 先生 Teacher
Examples by Level
{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}
I received a book from a friend.
{母にお金をもらいました|ははにおかねをもらいました}
I received money from my mother.
{先生にペンをもらいました|せんせいにぺんをもらいました}
I received a pen from the teacher.
{何をもらいましたか|なにをもらいましたか}
What did you receive?
{会社からボーナスをもらいました|かいしゃからぼーなすをもらいました}
I received a bonus from the company.
{誰にプレゼントをもらいましたか|だれにぷれぜんとをもらいましたか}
Who did you receive the gift from?
{何ももらっていません|なにももらっていません}
I haven't received anything.
{父に時計をもらいたいです|ちちにとけいをもらいたいです}
I want to receive a watch from my father.
{友達に宿題を手伝ってもらいました|ともだちにしゅくだいをおてつだってもらいました}
I had my friend help me with homework.
{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}
I had the teacher teach me.
{彼に送ってもらいました|かれにおくってもらいました}
I had him send it to me.
{誰に直してもらいましたか|だれになおしてもらいましたか}
Who did you have fix it for you?
{上司にアドバイスをいただきました|じょうしにあどばいすをいただきました}
I received advice from my boss (humble).
{誰からその情報を得ましたか|だれからそのじょうほうをえましたか}
From whom did you receive that information?
{彼に頼んでやってもらいました|かれにたのんでやってもらいました}
I asked him and had him do it for me.
{お土産をたくさんもらいました|おみやげをたくさんもらいました}
I received many souvenirs.
{この機会をいただけて光栄です|このきかいをいただけてこうえいです}
I am honored to have received this opportunity.
{彼に無理を言ってやってもらいました|かれにむりをいってやってもらいました}
I insisted he do it for me.
{親切にも教えてもらいました|しんせつにもおしえてもらいました}
They kindly taught me.
{誰に頼るべきか教えてもらいました|だれにたよるべきかおしえてもらいました}
I was told who I should rely on.
{ご指導を賜り、感謝しております|ごしどうをたまわり、かんしゃしております}
I am grateful for the guidance I have received (very formal).
{彼にやってもらうしかなかった|かれにやってもらうしかなかった}
I had no choice but to have him do it.
{誰に何をしてもらったか覚えていますか|だれになにをしてもらったかおぼえていますか}
Do you remember who did what for you?
{彼にそうしてもらうのが一番だ|かれにそうしてもらうのがいちばんだ}
Having him do that is the best way.
Easily Confused
Direction of action.
Common Mistakes
友達が本をもらいました
友達に本をもらいました
店から本をもらいました
店で本をもらいました (or 店から)
先生に本をあげました
先生に本をいただきました
彼に本をもらってあげた
彼に本をもらった
Sentence Patterns
___に___をもらいました。
Real World Usage
プレゼントもらったよ！
Particle choice
Smart Tips
Use 'te-morau'.
Pronunciation
Morau
Standard Japanese pitch accent.
Neutral
Morau ->
Statement
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Morau sounds like 'more-out'—you get more out of life when you receive things with gratitude!
Visual Association
Imagine a gift box floating from a friend's hand to yours with a big 'Morau' label on it.
Rhyme
When you get a gift from a friend, use 'ni' and 'morau' until the end.
Story
I met my friend. He gave me a cake. I said 'Thank you' and used 'morau' to tell my mom about it.
Word Web
Challenge
Write down 3 things you received today using the pattern.
Cultural Notes
Receiving is often tied to 'omotenashi' (hospitality).
From the verb 'morau' meaning to receive.
Conversation Starters
誰にプレゼントをもらいましたか？
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
友達 ___ 本をもらいました。
Score: /1
Practice Exercises
1 exercises友達 ___ 本をもらいました。
Score: /1
Practice Bank
10 exercises[もらった] [に] [お菓子|おか・し] [を] [友達|ともだち]
I received a letter from my teacher.
YouTubeのシルバーボタンを ___ ！(Received)
I received a souvenir from the President.
{友達|ともだち}は{私|わたし}をもらいました。
{大学|だいがく} ___ {奨学金|しょうがくきん}をもらいました。
[コーヒー] [に] [先輩|せんぱい] [を] [もらった]
I received your document.
Score: /10
FAQ (1)
No, use 'ni'.
Scaffolded Practice
1
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Recibir
Japanese requires specific particles.
Recevoir
No particle system.
Erhalten
Grammar structure.
もらう
None.
يستلم
Gendered.
收到
No particles.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Continue With
Japanese ~te morau: Having someone do something for you
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