What does it mean word for word?
もらえますか is the potential form of the verb morau, meaning "can I receive?" The particle を serves as the object marker, indicating the thing being requested.
Which one should you use?
Depending on the level of politeness required, you may use different forms. これをいただけますか？ and これをいただけませんでしょうか？ are both formal. The latter is a way to ask, "Could I possibly have this?" or "Would it be possible for me to have this?" For casual situations, これをくれる？ asks "Can you give me this?", while the informal これちょうだい！ functions as "Give me this!" or "Could I have this, please?"
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a slightly more indirect and polite way to ask permission to take something, you can use これをもらってもいいですか. In formal settings, use これをいただけますか？ or これをいただけませんでしょうか？ For casual settings with friends or family, use これ、もらえる？ or これをくれる？ The phrase これちょうだい！ is also informal.
How does it change in a sentence?
The particle を marks the object being requested in the sentence.
How do you pronounce it?
kore o moraemasu ka
When do people say it?
When someone gives you the item you requested, it is polite to respond with ありがとうございます (Thank you very much) or more casually with どうも (Thanks).
Did you know?
- The word いただく used in いただけますか is the humble version of 'to receive' and literally means 'to raise something above one's head'.
- The word これ (this) changes to それ (that) or あれ (that over there) depending on how far the object is from you and the person you are speaking to.
- While ちょうだい comes from the verb 'to receive', it is often used by children in a way that sounds like a cute demand rather than a request.
Examples in context
- このお菓子をいただけますか？Can I have this snack?
- これをもらえますか。Kore o moraemasu ka.Can I have this?
- すみません、これをもらえますか。Sumimasen, kore o moraemasu ka.Excuse me, can I have this?
- 最後の一つ、これをもらえますか。Saigo no hitotsu, kore o moraemasu ka.The last one, can I have this?
Example conversation
Hiroto and Misaki are at a stationery store.
- 大翔 Hiroto美咲さん、これをもらえますか。Misaki-san, kore o moraemasu ka.Misaki, can I have this?
- 美咲 Misakiいいですよ。どうぞ。Ii desu yo. Dōzo.Sure. Here you go.
- 大翔 Hirotoありがとうございます。Arigatō gozaimasu.Thank you very much.
- 美咲 Misakiどういたしまして。Dōitashimashite.You're welcome.
