Japanese dictionary
How to say "give" in Japanese
あげるあげる · ageru
"Give" in Japanese depends on the direction. When you give to someone, use あげる (ageru). When someone gives to you, use くれる (kureru).
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Ways to say "give" in Japanese
| Japanese | When to use it |
|---|---|
| あげるあげる · ageru | To give (to someone else). |
| くれるくれる · kureru | To give (to me or my group). |
| 差し上げるさしあげる · sashiageru | To give (humble, to someone senior). |
| 渡すわたす · watasu | To hand over. |
How to use it
To a client or someone senior, use the humble 差し上げる (sashiageru).
To hand something to someone, like documents, use 渡す (watasu).
Example sentences
- 友だちに誕生日プレゼントをあげました。Tomodachi ni tanjōbi purezento o agemashita.I gave my friend a birthday present.
- 同僚がお土産をくれました。Dōryō ga omiyage o kuremashita.My coworker gave me a souvenir.
- 資料を田中さんに渡しました。Shiryō o Tanaka-san ni watashimashita.I handed the documents to Mr. Tanaka.
- お客様にカタログを差し上げました。Okyakusama ni katarogu o sashiagemashita.I gave the customer a catalog.
- この本を妹にあげます。Kono hon o imōto ni agemasu.I'll give this book to my younger sister.
- 先生がアドバイスをくださいました。Sensei ga adobaisu o kudasaimashita.The teacher gave me advice.
Questions
What is the difference between あげる and くれる?
あげる (ageru) is giving away from you or your group. くれる (kureru) is someone giving to you or your group.
How do you say "give" politely to a client?
Use 差し上げる (sashiageru) for yourself giving, and くださる (kudasaru) when the client gives to you.
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See Executive JapaneseExecutive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.