Speakable Japanese

How to Say "I Give" in Japanese: Giving Gifts (Ageru)

Hello! You have wonderfully mastered the skill of "inviting"! In the next three lessons, we will study the very important and somewhat unique "expressions of giving and receiving" (授受表現), which can be called the heart of Japanese communication.
This is a way of expressing the relationships of "giving" and "receiving" things using different verbs. This time, we will master the first of them—the expression used when you "give" something to someone else.

🎯 Lesson Goal

Learn to describe the situation where someone gives an item to someone else using the form 「AはBに〜をあげます」 (A wa B ni ~ o agemasu)!

Step 1 Discover

Let's look at how this is used when describing giving gifts. Notice the particles used for the person receiving and the item given.

👩
Yuki

私はケンジさんに花をあげます。

(Watashi wa Kenji-san ni hana o agemasu.)

👨
Kenji

兄は彼女に指輪をあげます。

(Ani wa kanojo ni yubiwa o agemasu.)

💡

Did you notice?

'あげます (agemasu)' is the most basic verb used when you or someone from your 'inner circle' (e.g., family) gives something to a person from the 'outer circle' (e.g., a friend, colleague).

Step 2 The Pattern

Here is the foundational sentence structure for giving things to others.

Basic Chunk

私は に を あげます。

(Watashi wa ni o agemasu.)

🔑 The Particle 'に' (ni)

Who you give the item to is always indicated by the particle 'に' (ni). It points to the target or destination of your action.

🌟 The Particle 'を' (o)

What you give (the direct object) is indicated by the particle 'を' (o). For example, プレゼントを (purezento o - a present).

Step 3 Pattern Practice

Let's look at a few more examples of giving gifts for different occasions.

  • Mother's Day Giving to Mother

    私は母にカーネーションをあげました。

    (Watashi wa haha ni ka-ne-shon o agemashita.)

  • Friend's Birthday Younger brother gave a game

    弟は友達にゲームをあげました。

    (Otouto wa tomodachi ni ge-mu o agemashita.)

  • Unneeded items Giving a book away

    もう読まないから、あなたにこの本をあげます。

    (Mou yomanai kara, anata ni kono hon o agemasu.)

Step 4 Make It Yours!

This is the most important step! Imagine you are giving a gift to someone. Use the cheat sheet below to create your own sentences.

👉 私は RECEIVER に ITEM を あげます。

Vocabulary Cheat Sheet

Receiver (誰に)

  • 友達 tomodachi (friend)
  • 彼女 kanojo (girlfriend/her)
  • 彼 kare (boyfriend/him)
  • 先生 sensei (teacher)

Item (何を)

  • 花 hana (flowers)
  • チョコレート chokore-to (chocolate)
  • 本 hon (book)
  • お土産 o-miyage (souvenir)

Bonus Go Beyond the Basics

In everyday conversations, you will also need to say that you "won't give" something, or you might speak casually with your close friends and family. Here is how you can level up!

🙅‍♀️ 1. I will NOT give (Negative)

Basic / Formal

プレゼントを あげません。

(Purezento o agemasen.)

Casual (Friends)

プレゼントを あげない。

(Purezento o agenai.)

🤝 2. Friendly & Casual Giving

Casual Dictionary Form

これ、あげる。

("Kore, ageru" - Here, I give this to you)

With friendly emphasis

これ、あげるよ。

(Kore, ageru yo.)

Summary Lesson Review

Giving Items: Use 〜をあげます (o agemasu) when you or someone from your inner circle gives an item to someone else.

The Receiver: Indicate who receives the item with the particle 「に」(ni) (e.g., Tomodachi ni).

Casual Giving: In casual conversations, use the dictionary form あげる (ageru) or あげるよ (ageru yo).

Practice Drill

1 / X Polite

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