🦅 Project Eagle
Quadruple VS

Synonym Boundary: "もらいます", "頂く", "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

頂く

いただく (itadaku)
N4 / 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", "頂く", "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.
  • 頂く (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 A humble verb. Used for receiving something from someone, or for eating/drinking something. Always refers to the speaker's action or something benefiting the speaker..
  • 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..
Mixing these up can easily lead to unnatural translations. Refer to the bilingual context cards below to master the boundaries!
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 "頂く"
先生に本を貸して頂きました。
I received the favor of the teacher lending me a book.
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.".

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