1. Basic structure
| Form | Structure | Meaning | Examples |
|---|
| Noun |
N を もらう | To receive..., to get... (from someone) | 友だちにプレゼント をもらった。
I received a present from a friend. |
2. Main meaning & detailed analysis
-
Expresses that the speaker or someone close to the speaker receives something from someone else.
- Used to emphasize that the action originates from the giver (giver → speaker/one's in-group).
-
Structure:
-
A（recipient）+ は／が + B（giver）+ に + N を もらう
- A more modest way of speaking than N を くれる (from the recipient's standpoint).
- In casual speech it can be shortened to もらった／もらえた.
3. Illustrative examples
- 先生に本 をもらいました。
I received a book from my teacher. - 母から手紙 をもらった。
I got a letter from my mother. - 誕生日に友だちにケーキ をもらった。
On my birthday, I got a cake from a friend. - 会社からボーナス をもらいました。
I received a bonus from the company. - 兄は外国人の友達に日本のお土産 をもらった。
My older brother got a Japanese souvenir from a foreign friend.
4. Usage & nuance
- Used when the speaker is the recipient or represents the recipient (one's family/in-group).
-
Polite: もらいます； plain: もらう； past: もらった； potential: もらえる.
-
Mild, neutral. Depending on context, can convey gratitude.
- In humble language, いただく can be used instead of もらう.
5. Comparison & distinction
| Pattern | Meaning | Difference | Example |
|---|
|
N を もらう | Receive something from someone | The speaker is the recipient | 友だちに本 をもらう |
|
N を くれる | Someone gives me | Giver → me (recipient's viewpoint) | 友だちが本 をくれる |
|
N を あげる | I give someone | Me → someone else (giver's viewpoint) | 私が友だちに本 をあげる |
|
N を いただく | Receive humbly | More polite than もらう | 先生に本 をいただきました |
6. Additional notes
-
もらう is a group 1 verb; its potential form is もらえる.
- Extended pattern: Vて + もらう → “have someone do ... for you” (an action). Example: 手伝ってもらう。
- When the recipient is not the speaker but an outsider, use くれる / あげる instead of もらう.
7. Variants & set phrases
-
～てもらう：Have someone do something for you (requesting/receiving help).
-
～をいただく：Receive (humble, highly polite).
-
～てもらえませんか：Could you do ~ for me?
8. Common mistakes & JLPT traps
- Wrong particle: it should be N（giver）に N を もらう, avoid から in formal writing (though it's fine in conversation).
- Confusing it with くれる (the subject–object relationship is reversed).
- The JLPT often tests the distinction among the three patterns: あげる・くれる・もらう.
