N4 Giving and Receiving Actions

~てもらう: meaning, usage and examples

~てもらう means: to have someone do something for you; to receive a favor (the receiver is the subject).

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. 先輩せんぱいに仕事しごとを手伝てつだってもらいました。

   My senior helped me with my work.

2. 母ははに服ふくを作つくってもらった。

   I had my mother make clothes for me.

3. 鈴木すずきさんに写真しゃしんを撮とってもらいました。

   Ms. Suzuki took a photo for me.

4. 父ちちに車くるまで学校がっこうまで送おくってもらいました。

   My father drove me to school.

When to use it

Use てもらう when you, or someone on your side, receive a favor: someone does an action for you. The receiver is the subject (often an unstated 私わたし) and the person who does the action is marked with に. 鈴木すずきさんに写真しゃしんを撮とってもらいました means "Ms. Suzuki took a photo for me." It can also mean you asked someone to do it.

Nuance

てもらう often suggests that you asked for the favor or arranged it, while てくれる sounds more like the other person did it of their own will. Both express thanks. With superiors, use the humble ていただく. The form てもらいたい means "I want someone to do X for me."

Compare

Compare てもらう with てくれる: 友達ともだちに送おくってもらった (I got my friend to take me, the receiver is the subject) and 友達ともだちが送おくってくれた (my friend took me, the doer is the subject). Compare it with てあげる, where the subject does the favor for someone else: 友達ともだちを送おくってあげた.

Tip: Think "I received the action." The person who did it always takes に, never が, in a てもらう sentence.