Quadruple VS
Synonym Boundary: "もらいます", "もらう", "受け取る", "いただく"
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
受け取る
うけとる (uketoru)
N4 / CEFR
Japanese Option D
いただく
いただく (itadaku)
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", "受け取る", "いただく" 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.
- 受け取る (うけとる (uketoru) - Level: N4): Maps to "to receive, to accept" and is used when Means to take something that is given or sent. It implies physically taking possession. Can also mean to understand or interpret something..
- いただく (いただく (itadaku) - Level: N4): Maps to "to receive (humble form of もらう); to eat/drink (humble form of 食べる/飲む)" and is used when Humble form of もらう.
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 "受け取る"
小包を郵便局で受け取った。
I received the parcel at the post office.
Context for "いただく"
お客様からお土産をいただきました。
I received a souvenir from the customer.
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.".