～あげる (giving a thing)

• Reading: あげる
• Romaji: ageru
• Formation: Giver は/が + Recipient に + Object を + あげる

Meaning

Indicates giving something to a person who is not a member of the giver's in-group, or to someone of equal or lower social status. The giver's perspective is taken.

あげる is used when the speaker or someone in the speaker's in-group gives a physical object to an out-group member or someone of equal or lower status. The recipient is marked with に. In more polite contexts, さしあげる replaces あげる when the recipient is of higher status. The older form やる can be used when giving to animals, plants, or children, though あげる is increasingly used in these cases too. This verb always takes the giver's perspective.

Examples

1. 友達に誕生日プレゼントをあげた。 I gave a birthday present to my friend.
2. 妹にお菓子をあげました。 I gave sweets to my younger sister.
3. 彼女に花をあげるつもりです。 I plan to give flowers to my girlfriend.

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 母の日にカーネーションをあげた。
• クラスメートにノートを貸してあげた。
• 弟の誕生日に本をあげようと思っている。

Don't Say

• 先生にプレゼントをあげました。(When giving to someone of higher status, さしあげる is more appropriate) → 先生にプレゼントをさしあげました。
• 友達が私にチョコレートをあげた。(あげる describes giving from the speaker's side; use くれた when receiving) → 友達が私にチョコレートをくれた。

Origin & History

あげる originally meant to raise or elevate, and the giving sense developed from the idea of offering something upward to another person.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal