This month we learn new words: Agemasu and Kuremasu, which means ‘to give’ and Moraimasu which means ‘to get’ or ‘to receive’ or ‘to be given’. In Japanese the trick is to choose which of these words to use, depending on the subject, the giver or receiver. If the giver is the subject you use either Agemasu or Kuremasu which means ‘to give’.
If the receiver is yourself, a person close to you (part of your ‘inner circle’) you use Kuremasu.
Example sentence ‘Naruto gives a photograph to me’. (Naruto wa watashi ni shashin o kuremasu.)
‘A photograph’ is ‘Shashin‘, and ‘me’ is ‘Watashi’. You use the particle ‘ni’ to indicate the receiver and Kuremashu means ‘to give’.
Naruto wa watashi ni shashin o kuremasu.
If the receiver is a person outside your inner group, you use Agemasu (to Give). Then the sentence will be: Naruto wa Goku ni shashin o agemasu (Naruto gives Goku a photograph.)
When the receiver is the subject, we use Moraimasu (to get, to receive, to be given). You can use the particle, Ni, to indicate the giver. In case Naruto is given a photograph by Sasuke, Naruto is the subject. The giver is Sasuke, so you say ‘Sasuke ni’.
Example sentence: Naruto wa Sasuke ni shashin o moraimasu.’ (Naruto is given a photograph by Sasuke.)
Here is a nice tip and an interesting use of a familiar word. If you receive something from your superior, it is better to say Itadakimasu, in stead of Moraimasu. Another use for Itadakimasu few non-Japanese know about!
Example sentence: Watashi wa hokage ni omiyage wo itadakimashita (I received a souvenir from the hokage.)
Word of the month:
We hope you found our lesson helpful. This month’s word of the month are actually three: Agemasu and Kuremasu, which means ‘to give’ and Moraimasu which means ‘to get’ or ‘to receive’ or ‘to be given’.