「もらう/いただく」- Receiving or Accepting

Explanation

In Japanese, the verbs もらう and its polite form いただく are used to express receiving or accepting something from someone else. These verbs are often used to describe a giving-receiving relationship, emphasizing the perspective of the receiver. Unlike あげる (to give) and くれる (to give to the speaker), もらう and いただく focus on the recipient.

Grammar Patterns

Grammar Point	Connection	Explanation
Subject (Receiver) は Giver に Object を もらう	Noun + に + Noun + を + もらう	Used to express receiving something from someone.
Subject (Receiver) は Giver から Object を もらう	Noun + から + Noun + を + もらう	Used to express receiving something from someone, with a more formal tone.
Subject (Receiver) は Giver に Object を いただく	Noun + に + Noun + を + いただく	Used to express receiving something from someone, showing respect.
Subject (Receiver) は Giver から Object を いただく	Noun + から + Noun + を + いただく	Used to express receiving something from someone, with a formal and respectful tone.

Basic Usage

もらう and いただく both mean "to receive" or "to accept." いただく is the polite form and is typically used when receiving something from someone of higher status or older age.

Examples

• これこれは姉あねにもらった本ほんです。
• Kore wa ane ni moratta hon desu.
• This is a book I received from my sister.
  

• 先生せんせいからアドバイスアドバイスをいただきました。
• Sensei kara adobaisu o itadakimashita.
• I received advice from my teacher.
  

Deep Dive

Basic Concept

もらう and いただく can be used to describe receiving items or services from others. Examples include:

• 彼かれから勇気ゆうきをもらった。
• Kare kara yuuki o moratta.
• I received courage from him.
  

• 先輩せんぱいからアドバイスアドバイスをもらった。
• Senpai kara adobaisu o moratta.
• I received advice from my senior.
  

Use of Polite Form

When using いただく, it typically shows respect to the giver:

• A社エーしゃから内定ないていをいただいた。
• A-sha kara naitei o itadaita.
• I received a job offer from Company A.
  

• 先生せんせいから進路しんろに関かんするアドバイスアドバイスをいただいた。
• Sensei kara shinro ni kansuru adobaisu o itadaita.
• I received advice from my teacher about my future path.
  

Comparison and Differences

〜もらう vs. 〜いただく

もらう and いただく are similar in meaning but differ in politeness. The former is used in casual situations, while the latter is used in formal situations or when showing respect to someone of higher status.

Expression	Usage	Example	English Translation
もらう	Casual situations	友達ともだちに本ほんをもらった。	I received a book from my friend.
いただく	Formal situations	先生せんせいに本ほんをいただいた。	I received a book from my teacher.

Real-Life Scenarios

In everyday conversations, もらう and いただく are used to clearly express the act of receiving something. For example:

• A: これこれは誰だれにもらったの？
• Kore wa dare ni moratta no?
• Who did you receive this from?
  

• B: これこれは友達ともだちにもらったんだ。
• Kore wa tomodachi ni moratta n da.
• I received this from a friend.
  

• A: 先生せんせいにお礼れいを言いいましたか？
• Sensei ni orei o iimashita ka?
• Did you thank the teacher?
  

• B: はい、アドバイスアドバイスをいただいたので、ちゃんとお礼れいを言いいました。
• Hai, adobaisu o itadaita node, chanto orei o iimashita.
• Yes, because I received advice, I properly thanked them.
  

Summary

もらう and いただく are commonly used verbs in Japanese to express receiving items or services from others. They are used in casual and formal situations, respectively. Understanding and mastering these verbs will help learners express receiving actions more naturally and better understand the Japanese honorific system.