貰います（もらいます、moraimasu）
- to receive

The Japanese verb 貰います (読み方：もらいます) means "to receive," "to get," or "to be given something." It implies that something is given to you by someone else. The focus is on the act of receiving, rather than the act of giving. It can be used in various contexts, from receiving a gift to getting a service. The nuance is that you are the recipient. The subject of the sentence is typically the person receiving the action. Also, the meaning slightly changes depending on the context and the subject, and it could mean “to have someone do something for me”.

⚫︎プレゼントをもらいます。 Translation: I receive a present. ⚫︎友達から本をもらいました。 Translation: I received a book from my friend. ⚫︎先生に宿題をもらいました。 Translation: I got homework from the teacher.

⚫︎ Use 貰います when you are the receiver of something or some action. ⚫︎ The giver of the item or the doer of the action is often indicated with the particle から (from), に (to), or で (by/with). ⚫︎ The thing you receive is marked with the particle を (direct object marker). ⚫︎ Consider the politeness level; もらいます is polite, the plain form is もらう

⚫︎ The word is typically written in hiragana as もらいます. ⚫︎ The kanji form is 貰います. ⚫︎ The okurigana (suffix hiragana) is always います. ⚫︎ Other conjugations include: ⚫︎ もらって (te-form, used for linking clauses) ⚫︎ もらわない (negative form) ⚫︎ もらった (past tense) ⚫︎ もらえる (potential form - can receive)

⚫︎ 受け取る (うけとる) - to receive (more formal) ⚫︎ 頂きます (いただきます) - to receive (humble form, often used before eating)

⚫︎ あげます - to give (to someone of a lower or equal status) ⚫︎ 渡します (わたします) - to hand over, to give (neutral)

誕生日に素敵なプレゼントをもらいました。 ・Translation: I received a wonderful present on my birthday. ・Explanation: This sentence describes the act of receiving a present on a birthday. The speaker is the recipient, indicated by the use of もらいました.

犬にボールをもらって、嬉しかった。 ・Translation: I received the ball from the dog, and I was happy. ・Explanation: This example includes the usage of もらって as a te-form. This links "receiving the ball" with "being happy."

The kanji 貰 is a combination of the radical 貝 (shell, referring to money/treasure) and 寸 (a unit of measure, here implying small amount). The etymology is unclear, but the usage has to do with receiving. The etymology is less well-documented compared to other common verbs, however.