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Mom gives a book, and it reaches 「私」. Use 「もらいます」 when you receive something.

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Lesson notes · ≈ JLPT N4 · Beginner 2

もらいますmoraimasu

receive: get from someone

Use 「もらいます」 to describe receiving something from someone, with the receiver as the viewpoint.

How it works

  1. Mom gives a book, and it reaches 「私」. Use 「もらいます」 when you receive something.

    Mom gives a book, and it reaches 「私」. Use 「もらいます」 when you receive something.

  2. Describe the scene from the receiver’s point of view. 「私は」 tells us that I am the one receiving the book.

    Describe the scene from the receiver’s point of view. 「私は」 tells us that I am the one receiving the book.

  3. 「母に」 tells us who the item comes from. With 「もらいます」, 「に」 marks the giver.

    「母に」 tells us who the item comes from. With 「もらいます」, 「に」 marks the giver.

  4. 「本を」 tells us what was received. Put the item before 「を」 to say what you received.

    「本を」 tells us what was received. Put the item before 「を」 to say what you received.

  5. To ask who gave the gift, use 「誰に」. Answer with 「友達に」, for example, to name the giver.

    To ask who gave the gift, use 「誰に」. Answer with 「友達に」, for example, to name the giver.

  6. To ask what was received, use 「何を」. In your answer, put an item such as 「ぬいぐるみ」 before 「を」.

To ask what was received, use 「何を」. In your answer, put an item such as 「ぬいぐるみ」 before 「を」.

  • In 「母は父に…もらいました」, Mom receives the gift and Dad gives it.

    In 「母は父に…もらいました」, Mom receives the gift and Dad gives it.

  • In 「私はこの本を母に…」, 「母に」 means the book was received from Mom. The book moves from Mom → me.

    In 「私はこの本を母に…」, 「母に」 means the book was received from Mom. The book moves from Mom → me.

  • Compare the 「あげます」 you learned earlier: 「母にあげます」 means me → Mom; 「母にもらいます」 means Mom → me.

    Compare the 「あげます」 you learned earlier: 「母にあげます」 means me → Mom; 「母にもらいます」 means Mom → me.

  • Example sentences

    • 母ははhahaはわwa父ちちchichiにniプレゼントぷれぜんとpurezentoをoもらいました。もらいましたmoraimashita

      My mother received a present from my father.

    • 私わたしwatashiはわwaこのkono本ほんhonをo母ははhahaにniもらいました。もらいましたmoraimashita

      I received this book from my mother.

    In a conversation

    • A
      誰だれにプレゼントぷれぜんとをもらいましたか。か

      A: Who did you receive a present from?

    • B
      友達ともだちにもらいました。もらいました

      B: I received it from a friend.

    • A
      何なにをもらいましたか。か

      A: What did you get?

    • B
      かわいいぬいぐるみをもらいました。もらいました

      B: I reached a cute stuffed animal.

    Check yourself

    1. Level 1 · Recognise

      Which sentence is correct?

    2. Level 1 · Recognise

      Listen and choose the meaning

    3. Level 2 · Build

      Put the words in order

      I received a present from my friend.

    4. Level 3 · Use

      What goes in the blank?

      姉は父から時計を 。

      My older sister received a watch from my father.

    More grammar in this theme

    • 〜に住んでいますsay where you live
    • 〜と〜人で住んでいますwho you live with and how many
    • 〜ています/〜をしていますongoing work or studies
    • 〜が〜人/匹いますcount people or small animals
    • 〜が上手です/下手ですskill at an activity
    • 〜は〜が〜ですdescribe someone's features
    • 〜くて〜/〜で〜link two qualities
    • あげます/あげましたgive something to someone
    • もらいますreceive: get from someone
    • くれますsomeone gives to me/us
    Previousあげます/あげましたNextくれます

    Keep practising

    Test your Japanese vocabulary12 adaptive questions, freeCheck your pronunciationRead aloud and get a scorePractise verb forms10-question conjugation quizSee the whole courseGrammar, vocabulary and quizzes by theme
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