～もらう (receiving a thing)

• Reading: もらう
• Romaji: morau
• Formation: Receiver は/が + Giver に/から + Object を + もらう

Meaning

Indicates that the speaker or someone the speaker empathises with receives something from another person. The focus is on the act of receiving.

もらう expresses receiving a physical object from someone, taking the receiver's perspective. The giver is marked with に or から, and the receiver is the subject. The polite equivalent is いただく, used when receiving from someone of higher status. Unlike くれる which focuses on the giver's action of giving, もらう emphasises the receiver's act of receiving. もらう can also imply that the receiver actively sought or requested what was given.

Examples

1. 誕生日に友達からプレゼントをもらった。 I received a present from my friend on my birthday.
2. 祖父に時計をもらいました。 I received a watch from my grandfather.
3. 会社からボーナスをもらった。 I received a bonus from the company.

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• バレンタインにたくさんチョコをもらった。
• 引っ越し祝いに友人から食器をもらった。
• 先生にいい成績をいただきました。

Don't Say

• 私は友達をプレゼントをもらった。(The giver should be marked with に or から, not を) → 私は友達にプレゼントをもらった。
• 先生にアドバイスをもらった。(When receiving from a superior, いただいた is more polite) → 先生にアドバイスをいただいた。

Origin & History

もらう is believed to have developed from a native Japanese root meaning to receive or obtain, with usage documented since the Muromachi period.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal