貰う

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. 友達から手紙をもらいました。▶ —
   I received a letter from my friend.
2. 先生から本をいただきました。▶ —
   I humbly received a book from the teacher.

Collocations

Mnemonic

もらう — もらう, Yamato. A godan verb. The 'receive' seat of the 授受動詞 triad. If あげる and くれる are 'giving', もらう is 'receiving'. The humble register is いただく itadaku ── 先生から本をいただきました (I received a book from my teacher). The same word as the 'itadakimasu' said before a meal. The crucial point is the auxiliary use ~てもらう ── 友達に手伝ってもらった = 'I had a friend help me / a friend helped at my request'. The verb marks the speaker as the beneficiary of an action. The triad ~てもらう / ~てくれる / ~てあげる is a uniquely Japanese grammatical layer that inscribes the directionality and the gratitude of an action ── with no direct English or Korean equivalent, it is one of the steepest climbs of learning. Korean 'batda' has formality differences but not this directionality layer.

Quick check

1. Natural verb when a teacher gave you a book?

   • Itadakimashita — humble / formal
   • Moraimashita — general
   • Yarimashita — inappropriate
   • Kuremashita — possible (teacher-perspective)