もらう

To Receive

Level 2Sounds Like morau

もらう is the standard Japanese verb for 'receiving.' It is used when you (or someone you are close to) receive a physical object or a favor from another person. In Japanese, the receiver is the subject of the sentence.

How It Works

もらう is a Group 1 (u-verb) and is a central part of the Japanese 'giving and receiving' system. It focuses on the benefit gained by the receiver.

1. Receiving Objects
The basic structure is: [Receiver] は [Giver] に/から [Object] を もらう。
Example: 私は友達にプレゼントをもらいました (I received a gift from my friend).
Use に for individuals, and から when the source is an organization (like a school) or to emphasize the 'from' aspect.

2. Perspective and Third Parties
Unlike くれる, which is strictly limited to receiving from the perspective of the speaker's 'in-group', もらう is more flexible. It can be used to describe transactions between two third parties (e.g., 'Tanaka-san received a gift from Sato-san') simply by making the receiver the subject of the sentence. However, you cannot use もらう if you (the speaker) are the giver; in that case, you must use あげる.

3. Receiving Favors (Auxiliary Verb)
When attached to the て form of another verb (〜てもらう), it means 'to have someone do something for you.' This often implies you asked for the favor or at least appreciate the action.
Example: 先生に教えてもらいました (I had the teacher teach me).

4. Politeness and Register
もらう is neutral/casual. In polite speech, use もらいます。When receiving from a superior (like a boss or teacher), the humble version いただく is used to show respect.

Examples (4)

  1. 誕生日に姉に時計をもらいました。

    I received a watch from my older sister for my birthday.

    Word by Word: Birthday on older-sister from watch (object) received.

    Here, the speaker is the receiver (implied 'I') and the sister is the giver, marked with に.

  2. 駅で知らない人にティッシュをもらった。

    I got some tissues from a stranger at the station.

    Word by Word: Station at unknown person from tissues (object) received.

    This shows a casual usage where the giver is marked with に.

  3. 漢字がわからなかったので、先生に教えてもらいました。

    Since I didn't understand the kanji, I had the teacher teach it to me.

    Word by Word: Kanji (subject) didn't understand because, teacher by teaching received.

    This uses the てもらう pattern, showing the speaker received the 'favor' of being taught.

  4. 学校から奨学金をもらいました。

    I received a scholarship from the school.

    Word by Word: School from scholarship (object) received.

    When the giver is an institution like a school, から is used instead of に.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the wrong particle for the giver.

    友達がプレゼントをもらいました。(To mean 'I got a gift from a friend')
    友達にプレゼントをもらいました。

    In a もらう sentence, the giver is the source, not the subject. The giver must be marked with に or から. If you use が, the friend becomes the receiver.

  • Using もらう when the speaker is the giver.

    田中さんは私に本をもらいました。(To mean 'Tanaka received a book from me')
    私は田中さんに本をあげました。

    You cannot use もらう to describe someone else receiving something from you. In Japanese, when you are the giver, you must use あげる (I gave to Tanaka) rather than describing it from Tanaka's perspective as receiving.

  • Confusing 'receive' with 'borrow'.

    図書館に本をもらいました。
    図書館で本を借りました（かりました）。

    もらう implies a permanent transfer of ownership. If you have to return the item (like a library book), use 借りる（かりる） instead.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

もらうLevel 2To Receive

Learn This First

To use もらう (to receive) correctly, you need to understand how to mark the giver with the particle に (or から) and the object being received with the particle を. Basic verb usage is also required to conjugate it into polite or past forms.

Words in This Pattern