あげる vs もらう vs くれる: Japanese Giving & Receiving Verbs Guide
Master Japanese giving and receiving verbs - あげる, もらう, and くれる. Understand direction of favor, perspective, and when to use each with examples.
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Reviewed by GyanMirai Editorial Team•Last reviewed 2025-02-01
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Grammar Comparison JLPT N4 JLPT N4 JLPT N4
あげる,もらう, andくれる
あげる vs もらう vs くれる: Japanese Giving & Receiving Verbs Complete Guide
Master Japanese giving and receiving verbs - あげる, もらう, and くれる. Understand direction of favor, perspective, and when to use each with clear examples.
Read time: 7 min readSearches: 2,600+ monthlyUpdated: February 14, 2026
Understanding the difference between あげる (ageru),もらう (morau), and くれる (kureru) is one of the most important distinctions in Japanese grammar. This comprehensive guide will help you master when and how to use each one correctly.
Grammar Point A
あげる (ageru)
To give (from speaker's perspective outward)
Used when I/we give to others, or when a third party gives to another third party. Favor flows AWAY from speaker's side.
Direction of favor: あげる = favor goes AWAY from speaker's side. くれる = favor comes TOWARD speaker. もらう = speaker RECEIVES favor.
2
Subject of sentence: あげる/くれる = GIVER is subject. もらう = RECEIVER is subject.
3
Speaker's involvement: くれる = speaker (or in-group) is ALWAYS the receiver. あげる = speaker can be giver but NOT receiver. もらう = speaker is often receiver.
4
Gratitude nuance: くれる and もらう both show gratitude for receiving. あげる is neutral or shows speaker's generosity.
てあげる emphasizes 'doing a favor' and can sound patronizing. Often better to just use the plain form.
Mistake #4Wrong particle with もらう: 「友達をもらった」
Correction: 友達にもらった / 友達からもらった
もらう takes に or から for the giver, not を.
Mistake #5Using もらう for objects one buys: 「店でケーキをもらった」
Correction: 店でケーキを買った
もらう implies receiving as a gift/favor. For purchases, use 買う.
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding with these practice questions. Click on your answer to see if you are correct.
0 / 6 answered
Q1
先生が私に本を___。
The teacher gave me a book.
Q2
私は弟にお菓子を___。
I gave sweets to my younger brother.
Q3
母に料理を作って___。
I had my mother make food for me.
Q4
友達が宿題を手伝って___。嬉しかった。
My friend helped me with my homework. I was happy.
Q5
社長に資料をお見せ___。（humble form）
I showed the documents to the company president. (humble)
Q6
田中さんが鈴木さんに花を___。
Mr. Tanaka gave flowers to Ms. Suzuki.
Frequently Asked Questions
The difference is the SUBJECT. くれる has the GIVER as subject: '友達がくれた' (My friend gave [to me]). もらう has the RECEIVER as subject: '私がもらった' (I received). Both describe the same event from different perspectives.
てあげる emphasizes 'I'm doing YOU a favor.' In Japanese culture, explicitly highlighting your own generosity can seem self-congratulatory or patronizing. It's often better to offer help without the あげる: 「手伝いましょうか」instead of「手伝ってあげましょうか」.
Your in-group (uchi) includes: yourself, family members, close friends, colleagues at your company (when talking to outsiders), and anyone you identify closely with. If someone in your in-group receives something, you can use くれる even if you personally didn't receive it.
Yes! These verbs extend to abstract things like advice, information, opportunities, and especially actions (via て-form). Example: 先生がアドバイスをくれた (The teacher gave me advice). 友達が教えてくれた (My friend taught me).
やる is a casual/rough form of あげる, used when giving to animals, plants, children, or close inferiors. Example: 犬にえさをやる (Give food to the dog). Some consider やる impolite for adult humans.
Summary
Use あげる when...
Used when I/we give to others, or when a third party gives to another third party. Favor flows AWAY from speaker's side.
Use もらう when...
Used when receiving something. Subject is the RECEIVER. Emphasizes the receiver's perspective and gratitude.
Pro Tip: The best way to master the difference is through reading and listening practice. Pay attention to how native speakers use these grammar points in context.
