A receives C from B: the giver is of the same/lower rank of the recipient.
17
クリスマスに彼は弟から赤いセーターをもらった。
He got a red sweater from his younger brother on Christmas.
16
昨日友達から手紙をもらってうれしかった！
I was really happy because I got a letter from my friend yesterday.
34
誕生日に時計をもらいました。
I received a watch on my birthday.
7
ばあちゃんの形見に、入れ歯をもらった。
I got some false teeth that were left by my grandmother as a memento.
Getting the sentences
Construction
(Elements in parentheses are optional.)
Basic Examples:
母にケーキをもらった (I received cake from Mom)
Related Expressions
いただく
てもらう
てもらう
Where this grammar is found
User notes
Level:
(12 years ago)
If you're wondering the difference between using 「もらう」 and 「くれる」 when the speaker is the recipient, consider the difference between these two sentences:
「僕は友達にプレゼントをもらった。」
I got a present from my friend.
「友達は僕にプレゼントをくれた。」
My friend gave me a present.
The basic meaning is the same, but as you can see by the reversed positions of the topic and the indirect object, the emphasis of each sentence differs. The first sentence emphasizes the action of receiving the present, while the second sentence places emphasis on who gave the present. This is reflected in the English translations as well. If you want to emphasize the giver, use 「くれる」, as that will cause the giver to become the subject and/or topic of the sentence (even if it goes unstated and is simply implied from context).
Remember, you can technically always substitute 「もらう」 for 「くれる」 (with the appropriate change in particles, as shown in the examples above), but not the other way around, because the recipient must be the speaker or someone close to the speaker to use 「くれる」.
「僕は友達にプレゼントをもらった。」
I got a present from my friend.
「友達は僕にプレゼントをくれた。」
My friend gave me a present.
The basic meaning is the same, but as you can see by the reversed positions of the topic and the indirect object, the emphasis of each sentence differs. The first sentence emphasizes the action of receiving the present, while the second sentence places emphasis on who gave the present. This is reflected in the English translations as well. If you want to emphasize the giver, use 「くれる」, as that will cause the giver to become the subject and/or topic of the sentence (even if it goes unstated and is simply implied from context).
Remember, you can technically always substitute 「もらう」 for 「くれる」 (with the appropriate change in particles, as shown in the examples above), but not the other way around, because the recipient must be the speaker or someone close to the speaker to use 「くれる」.
12
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