Learn Japanese: Basic Verbs for Giving and Receiving

As in any language, Japanese verbs express the action in a sentence. In Japanese, verbs also express the state of the speaker in relation t...

As in any language, Japanese verbs express the action in a sentence. In Japanese, verbs also express the state of the speaker in relation to the listener. When you learn Japanese, you quickly see that by changing the end of the verb, the speaker can show honor towards the listener or show humility towards the speaker's own actions. This set of systems keigo , or honorary language, is a distinctive feature of the Japanese language.

Giving and receiving in Japanese is closely related to the speaker's opinion of their status or position vis-à-vis their perception of the status or position of the listener. The Japanese has layers and layers of nuances, and discovering those layers reveals the beauty of the language. However, it is important to stay focused on the essentials while learning Japanese. Follow this guide to learn the seven Japanese verbs to give and receive:

• Ageru It means that the speaker gives something to another person. The subject of the sentence is the speaker: I give X.
• Morau It means that the speaker receives something from another person. The subject of the sentence is the giver: X gives it to me.
• Sashiageru It means that the speaker gives something to another person of greater status, such as a supervisor at work or a teacher. The use is identical to ageru , except that this verb expresses honor towards the receiver. The subject of the sentence is the speaker: I give X (with honor).
• Itadaku It means that the speaker receives something from another person humbly. The subject of the sentence is the speaker, and the verb expresses the humility of the speaker towards the giver: (humbly) receipt of X.
• Yaru It means that the speaker gives something to someone or something. If the recipient is a person, it must be someone of lower status than the speaker, such as a child. The subject of the sentence is the speaker: I give X (minor in state).
• Kureru It means that the speaker receives something. The subject of the sentence is the giver: X gives it to me.
• Kudasaru It means that the speaker receives something from someone of higher rank or to whom honor should be expressed. The subject of the sentence is the giver: X (with honor) gives me.

When you learn Japanese, start your study with ageru, morau and kureru. These three Japanese verbs will be used for all situations of giving and receiving. Kare-ni ringo-o agemashita means I gave him an apple; kare-ni ringo-o moraimashita means that I received an apple from him; and kare-ga ringo-o kuremashita means he gave me an apple. The difference between ageru and kureru causes many Japanese students to stumble, so study these two verbs carefully.

Then, as you learn more Japanese, add itadaku and kudasaru. These verbs are equivalent to morau and kureru, respectively, but are used when you want to express humility or honor. If you ask someone on the street for instructions, for example, it is appropriate to use itadaku as in michi-o oshiete itadakemasen ka ?, because you are asking a stranger for a favor.

Finally, add sashiageru and yaru to your Japanese vocabulary. These two verbs mean "I give," but they are exactly the opposite when it comes to the position of the recipient with respect to you (the speaker). The Japanese verb yaru was traditionally used to give things to children or pets, but recently, some Japanese began using ageru. This change places the child or pet in the same range as the speaker, which according to the more traditional Japanese is the incorrect use of the Japanese language.

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