あげる・
あげる and くれる describe giving, while もらう describes receiving. The correct verb depends on who gives, who receives, and whether the gift moves toward the speaker's side.
Choose the viewpoint first
Swipe sideways to compare every column.
| Verb | Sentence subject | Direction of the gift |
|---|---|---|
| あげる | Giver | Away from the speaker's side |
| くれる | Giver | Toward the speaker or the speaker's side |
| もらう | Receiver | Viewed as receiving from someone |
The three basic views
First locate the sentence subject. With the two giving verbs it is the giver; with the receiving verb it is the receiver.
私は妹に花をあげました。
I gave my younger sister some flowers.
AnalyzeThe subject is the giver, and the sentence views the gift from that side.
山田さんは私に地図をくれました。
Yamada gave me a map.
AnalyzeThe subject is the giver, but the gift comes toward the speaker.
私は田中さんから写真をもらいました。
I received a photograph from Tanaka.
AnalyzeThe same exchange is now described from the receiver's side.
What counts as the speaker's side?
くれる is not limited to gifts received personally by the speaker. The recipient can be someone treated as belonging to the speaker's relevant group, such as a family member. That grouping depends on the situation rather than on a permanently fixed list.
佐藤さんは母に旅行のお土産をくれました。
Sato gave my mother a souvenir from the trip.
AnalyzeThe speaker presents their mother as being on the speaker's side, so the gift moves toward that side.
An object or an action?
The basic three verbs describe receiving or giving an object. When someone performs an action for the speaker's side, the related pattern attaches くれる to the verb's て-form instead.
More examples
私は隣の子に絵本をあげました。
I gave the child next door a picture book.
Analyze兄は友だちに古い自転車をあげました。
My older brother gave his friend an old bicycle.
Analyze先生は私に新しい辞書をくれました。
My teacher gave me a new dictionary.
Analyze同僚は弟にコンサートの切符をくれました。
My colleague gave my younger brother a concert ticket.
Analyze妹は祖母から赤いかばんをもらいました。
My younger sister received a red bag from our grandmother.
Analyze私は友だちに誕生日カードをもらいました。
I received a birthday card from a friend.
Analyze