N4 · 40 words

Giving, receiving and favours

Presents, souvenirs, thanks, lending and borrowing, and asking for help.

English has one verb, "give", where Japanese has two, and the choice depends on direction. あげる is giving away from yourself or your side; くれる is someone giving to you or your side; もらう is receiving, seen from the receiver. Each has a polite partner — 差(さ)し上(あ)げる, くださる, いただく — and every one of them also attaches to a te-form verb to talk about favours: 手伝(てつだ)ってくれる, someone helps me.

The words

Verb (17)

あげるto give (away from me)VerbN4

母(はは)の日(ひ)に母(はは)に花(はな)をあげました。I gave my mother flowers on Mother's Day.

The giver is the subject; never used for something given to you.

くれるto give (to me or my side)VerbN4

友達(ともだち)が誕生日(たんじょうび)に本(ほん)をくれました。A friend gave me a book for my birthday.

The receiver is always the speaker or someone on the speaker's side.

もらうto receive; to getVerbN4

祖母(そぼ)から手紙(てがみ)をもらいました。I got a letter from my grandmother.

The giver takes に or から.

やるto give (to an animal, a plant, a younger person)VerbN4

毎朝(まいあさ)、花(はな)に水(みず)をやります。I water the flowers every morning.

Plain and a little rough with people; many speakers use あげる even for plants.

差し上げるto give (humble)VerbN4

お客様(きゃくさま)に記念品(きねんひん)を差(さ)し上(あ)げます。We will present our guests with a souvenir gift.

Humble form of あげる; for giving to someone you respect.

いただくto receive (humble)VerbN4

先生(せんせい)から辞書(じしょ)をいただきました。I received a dictionary from my teacher.

Humble form of もらう; usually written in kana.

くださるto give me (honorific)VerbN4

部長(ぶちょう)がお菓子(かし)をくださいました。The department head gave us some sweets.

Honorific form of くれる; note the polite form くださいます.

贈るto give (a gift, formally)VerbN4

結婚(けっこん)する友達(ともだち)にお皿(さら)を贈(おく)りました。I gave a friend who is getting married some plates.

Said like 送(おく)る, to send; this one is for gifts and honours.

借りるto borrowVerbN4

図書館(としょかん)で本(ほん)を三冊(さんさつ)借(か)りました。I borrowed three books from the library.

The lender takes に or から: 友達(ともだち)に借(か)りる.

貸すto lendVerbN4

すみません、ペンを貸(か)してくれませんか。Excuse me, could you lend me a pen?

The borrower takes に: 友達(ともだち)に貸(か)す.

返すto give back; to returnVerbN4

借(か)りたお金(かね)は来週(らいしゅう)返(かえ)します。I will pay back the money I borrowed next week.

渡すto hand over; to giveVerbN4

この書類(しょるい)を田中(たなか)さんに渡(わた)してください。Please give this document to Mr Tanaka.

預かるto look after (something for someone)VerbN4

お荷物(にもつ)をお預(あず)かりしましょうか。Shall I look after your luggage for you?

The other side of 預(あず)ける, to leave something with someone.

配るto hand out; to distributeVerbN4

会議(かいぎ)の前(まえ)に、資料(しりょう)をみんなに配(くば)りました。Before the meeting I handed out the papers to everyone.

譲るto give up (to someone); to hand onVerbN3

電車(でんしゃ)でお年寄(としよ)りに席(せき)を譲(ゆず)りました。I gave up my seat to an elderly person on the train.

頼むto ask (for a favour); to orderVerbN4

兄(あに)に車(くるま)で駅(えき)まで送(おく)ってくれるように頼(たの)みました。I asked my brother to drive me to the station.

The person asked takes に.

助かるto be a help; to be savedVerbN4

手伝(てつだ)ってくれて、本当(ほんとう)に助(たす)かりました。Thank you for helping; it was a great help.

Said as thanks: 助(たす)かります, that is a great help.

This list belongs to Politeness, favours and manners — six lists and 240 words that can also be practised as a whole.

Practise this list

Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.