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Giving & Receiving

あげる・くれる・もらう

あげる / くれる / もらう differ by direction

Who gives to whom matters.

📊 Giving & receiving
Verb Direction Example
あげる ageru I → others (give) 私が友達にあげる
くれる kureru others → me (give) 友達が私にくれる
もらう morau I receive from others 私が友達にもらう
💬 Examples
友達に本をあげました。
Tomodachi ni hon o agemashita.
(I) gave a book to a friend.
📝 あげる = I/we give to others
友達が本をくれました。
Tomodachi ga hon o kuremashita.
(A) friend gave me a book.
📝 くれる = someone gives to me
もらう = receive

The receiver is the subject.

💬 Examples
友達に本をもらいました。
Tomodachi ni hon o moraimashita.
(I) received a book from a friend.
📝 もらう = receive (に = from)
先生にプレゼントをもらった。
Sensei ni purezento o moratta.
(I) got a present from the teacher.
📝 Receiving
て-form + these verbs = doing a favor

Giving/receiving actions, not just things.

💬 Examples
手伝ってくれました。
Tetsudatte kuremashita.
(He) helped me (did me the favor).
📝 て + くれる = a favor for me
教えてもらいました。
Oshiete moraimashita.
(I) got someone to teach me.
📝 て + もらう