<あげる、くれる> give
Japanese has two verbs for giving. あげる、くれる
The choice between the pair depends on the direction of the transition.
Imagine me at the center, you next to me, and all the others on the edge.
When a thing moves away from the center, the transaction is described in terms of the verb あげる。
When a thing moves toward the center, the verb we use is くれる。
Me → you
あげる くれる
あげる
I give you flowers 私は、あなたにお花をあげる
You give flowers to others. あなたは、他の人にお花をあげる
I give flowers to others. 私は、他の人にお花をあげる
Somebody gives flowers to somebody else. 誰かが、誰かにお花をあげる
くれる
You give me flowers あなたは、私にお花をくれる
She gives me flowers 彼女は私にお花をくれた
Somebody gives me flowers. 誰かが私にお花をくれる
くれる、implied “appreciation”. If you think that way, probably it would be easier
So basically recipient is “me”, however, if the recipient is the person who is very closed to you such as your family, then, you assume the benefit your family receive would be your benefit, then, you could use くれる。
The president gave my little sister a letter.
大統領が、妹に手紙をくれました。
With both あげる and くれる, the giver is the subject of the sentence, and is accompanied by the particle は or が. The recipient is accompanied by the particle
に。
Giver は (が)、recipient に objectを (あげる・くれる)
(Giver) gives (the object) to (recipient).
I will give the women flowers.
私はその女の人にお花をあげます
The woman gave the man a watch.
その女の人は、男の人に、時計をあげました。
My parents may give me a new car.
両親が私に新しい車をくれるかもしれません。
<もらう>
くれる ー もらう
Transactions that are described with the verb くれる can also be described in terms of “receiving” or もらう, its is the recipient that is the subject of the sentence, with は or が, and the giver is accompanied by the particle に or から.
I received a Japanese dictionary from my big sister.
私は、姉に(姉から)日本語の辞書をもらいました。
(Recipient) は・が (giver) に・から (object) を もらう。
(recipient) receives (object) from (giver).
Compare the above もらう sentence with the くれる version below, noting the particle switch.
My big sister gave me a Japanese dictionary.
姉は、私に 日本語の辞書をくれました。
I received a Japanese dictionary from my big sister.
私は、姉に(姉から)日本語の辞書をもらいました。
She gave me movie tickets.
彼女は、映画のチケットをくれました。
I gave my girlfriend a ring.
僕の彼女に、指輪をあげました。
I gave my friend Nintendo Switch,.
友達に、任天堂スウィッチをあげました。
I gave the girl chocolate.
その女の子に、チョコレートをあげました。
My dad gave me a car.
お父さんが車をくれました。
My mom gave me money.
お母さんが、お金をくれました。
He gave his girlfriend flowers.
彼は、彼女にお花をあげました。
I received gift card from him.
私は彼に、ギフトカードをもらいました。