Speakable Japanese

How to Say "I Receive" in Japanese: Getting Things (Morau)

Hello! You have wonderfully mastered 'あげます' (give) and 'くれます' (give to me)! Finally, the last piece of the giving-and-receiving expressions puzzle falls into place.
This time, we will learn 'もらいます'—an active expression focused on the action of when you 'receive' something from someone.

🎯 Lesson Goal

Learn to actively describe the situation of receiving an item from someone using the form 「Aは Bに/から 〜をもらいます」!

Step 1 Discover

Let's look at how this is used in a real conversation. Maria notices Kenji's new item.

👩
Maria

そのカバン、すてきですね！誰にもらいましたか？

(Sono kaban, suteki desu ne! Dare ni moraimashita ka?)

👨
Kenji

ありがとうございます。これは、ケンさんにもらいました。

(Arigatou gozaimasu. Kore wa, Ken-san ni moraimashita.)

💡

Did you notice?

Kenji uses "に (ni)" to indicatewhogave him the bag, followed by the past tense verb "もらいました (moraimashita)" because he already received it.

Step 2 The Pattern

Here is the basic structure for describing when you receive something.

Basic Chunk

私は に を もらいます。

(Watashi wa ni o moraimasu.)

🔑 Key Point 1: に (ni) or から (kara)

Who you receive from is indicated by the particle 'に' or 'から'. They are mostly interchangeable here, but 'から' emphasizes the origin or source (like a company or organization).

🌟 Pro Tip: 'もらいます' vs 'くれます'

Both describe the same event, but from different views. 'くれます': The giver is the main character (Ken gave me...). 'もらいます': YOU are the main character and it emphasizes your active action of receiving.

Step 3 Pattern Practice

Let's look at examples using the past tense (もらいました / moraimashita), since we usually talk about things we have already received.

  • From a family member Mother (haha) / Watch (tokei)

    私は母に時計をもらいました。

    (Watashi wa haha ni tokei o moraimashita.)

  • From a friend Ken (Ken-san) / Flowers (hana)

    私はケンさんに花をもらいました。

    (Watashi wa Ken-san ni hana o moraimashita.)

  • From an organization Company (kaisha) / Bonus (bo-nasu)

    会社からボーナスをもらいました。

    (Kaisha kara bo-nasu o moraimashita.)

Step 4 Make It Yours!

Now it's your turn! Pick words from the Cheat Sheet below and create your own sentence out loud. Think about a memorable item you received recently.

👉 私は GIVER に ITEM を もらいました。

Vocabulary Cheat Sheet

〈Giver〉

  • 友達に tomodachi ni (from a friend)
  • 先生に sensei ni (from a teacher)
  • 家族に kazoku ni (from family)
  • 会社から kaisha kara (from the company)

〈Item〉

  • 花 hana (flowers)
  • 本 hon (book)
  • お土産 o-miyage (souvenir)
  • プレゼント purezento (present)

Bonus Go Beyond the Basics

Want to say youdidn'treceive something, or talk casually with friends? Here’s a quick guide to leveling up your conversation about getting things!

🙅‍♀️ 1. I DIDN'T receive... (Negative)

Basic / Formal (Past Negative)

何も もらいませんでした。

(Nani mo moraimasen deshita.)

Casual (Friends)

何も もらわなかった。

(Nani mo morawanakatta.)

🤝 2. Friendly & Casual (I got...)

Short form (Dictionary Past)

時計を もらった。

(Tokei o moratta.)

With friendly emphasis

プレゼント もらったよ！

(Purezento moratta yo!)

Summary Lesson Review

Receiving Items: Use 〜をもらいます (o moraimasu) to actively describe the situation where you receive an item.

The Giver: Indicate who you receive the item from using the particle 「に」(ni) or 「から」(kara).

Moraimasu vs Kuremasu: With もらいます, YOU are the main character receiving. With くれます, the GIVER is the main character.

Practice Drill

1 / X Polite

Related Lessons & Next Steps