🎁 JLPT N5 : How to Express Giving and Receiving in Japanese

In Japanese, actions of giving and receiving are expressed using three key verbs:

• あげます (agemasu) – to give (to others)
• もらいます (moraimasu) – to receive
• くれます (kuremasu) – to give (to me or someone close to me)

🧩 1. A は B に N を あげます – A gives B something

This structure is used when someone gives something to another person.

Structure:
A は B に N を あげます
= A gives N to B

Examples:

• わたしは 友だちに プレゼントを あげます。
  → I give a present to my friend.
• 母は 弟に ケーキを あげました。
  → My mother gave a cake to my younger brother.
• 先生は 学生に 本を あげました。
  → The teacher gave a book to the students.

Note: Use あげます only when the speaker is giving something to others or someone else is giving to a third party. Do not use あげます when someone gives something to the speaker.

🧩 2. A は B に / から N を もらいます – A receives something from B

This pattern is used when someone receives something from another person.

Structure:
A は B に / から N を もらいます
= A receives N from B

💡 You can use either に or から, but から emphasizes the source more.

Examples:

• わたしは 友だちに プレゼントを もらいました。
  → I received a present from my friend.
• たなかさんは 先生から 本を もらいました。
  → Mr. Tanaka got a book from the teacher.
• 子どもは おばあさんに お金を もらいました。
  → The child received money from the grandmother.

Note: The subject is always the receiver. もらいます is used when the speaker or another person receives something from someone.

🧩 3. B は A に N を くれます – B gives something to A (the speaker)

Use くれます when someone gives something to me or to someone close to me (like a family member).

Structure:
B は (わたしに) N を くれます
= B gives N to me

Examples:

• 母は わたしに りんごを くれました。
  → My mother gave me an apple.
• 先生は わたしに 本を くれました。
  → The teacher gave me a book.
• 友だちは 弟に おもちゃを くれました。
  → My friend gave my little brother a toy.

Note: Use くれます only when the recipient is “me” or someone closely related to the speaker. Do not use it when the receiver is someone else not related to the speaker.

🔁 Quick Comparison Table

📝 Practice Quiz

1. I received a pen from my friend.
   → わたしは 友だちに ペンを __________。
2. I gave a book to my younger sister.
   → わたしは いもうとに 本を __________。
3. My grandfather gave me a cake.
   → おじいさんは わたしに ケーキを __________。

✅ Answers:

1. もらいました
2. あげました
3. くれました

📘 Vocabulary List

Now you know how to express giving and receiving in Japanese! Mastering あげます, もらいます, and くれます will help you communicate more naturally in daily life.

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• JLPT N5 Japanese Comparison Structures
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I’m a software engineer based in Japan, with experience in developing web and mobile applications. I’m passionate about technology, especially in DevOps, AI, and app development using platforms like AWS, Flutter, and Node.js. My goal is to build a website that shares knowledge about the Japanese language and IT, helping everyone learn and grow more easily in the digital era.