Quadruple VS
Synonym Boundary: "もらいます", "もらう", "受ける", "貰う"
All represent the core concept "receive", but require precise selection.
Japanese Option A
もらいます
もらいます (moraimasu)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option B
もらう
もらう (morau)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option C
受ける
うける (ukeru)
N4 / CEFR
Japanese Option D
貰う
もらう (morau)
N4 / CEFR
Quadruple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
When expressing "receive" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "もらいます", "もらう", "受ける", "貰う" based on context.
- もらいます (もらいます (moraimasu) - Level: N5): Maps to "to receive" and is used when Used when the receiver.
- もらう (もらう (morau) - Level: N5): Maps to "to receive (from someone)" and is used when Used when the speaker or someone in their group receives something from another person. Direction: giver → receiver.
- 受ける (うける (ukeru) - Level: N4): Maps to "to receive, to take (an exam), to undergo" and is used when 複数の意味を持つ動詞。「試験を受ける.
- 貰う (もらう (morau) - Level: N4): Maps to "to receive; to get (from someone)" and is used when Transitive verb. Used to express receiving something from someone, or receiving a favor. Often implies the giver is of equal or higher status, or the action is done *for* the receiver..
Context for "もらいます"
友達からプレゼントをもらいました。
I received a present from my friend.
Context for "もらう"
友達からプレゼントをもらいました。
I received a present from my friend.
Context for "受ける"
来月、JLPTの試験を受けます。
I will take the JLPT exam next month.
Context for "貰う"
友達からプレゼントを貰いました。
I received a present from my friend.
Synonym Mastery Challenge
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "友達からプレゼントをもらいました。" (Meaning: "I received a present from my friend.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "もらいます" is correct here because it represents "to receive" in the context: "I received a present from my friend.".