何かもらった
nanika moratta
The phrase "I got something" in Japanese is expressed as 何かもらった (nanika moratta).
This phrase is used to report the receipt of a physical object or a gift.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form 何かもらった is informal and suitable for friends or family. For more formal alternatives, you can use 取得しました (しゅとくしました) to convey that you have acquired or obtained something, appropriate for business settings or speaking to elders or 手に入れました (てにいれました) to express that you have obtained something physically. In casual conversations or with friends, you might also use the informal phrase ゲットした (げっとした), which borrows the English word 'get'.
How do you pronounce it?
nanika moratta
Did you know?
- In Japanese culture, saying you 'got' a gift is often accompanied by a polite refusal or a comment that the gift is 'too much', even if you are happy to keep it.
- If you want to emphasize that someone specifically gave the item to you as a favor, you would use the humble verb いただく (itadaku) instead of もらう.
- The formal term 取得 used in 'getting' something often refers specifically to legal acquisitions, such as obtaining a driver's license or a qualification.
Examples in context
- 車の免許を取得しました。(くるまのめんきょをしゅとくしました。)I got my driver's license.
- 長年の努力の結果、仕事を手に入れました。(ながねんのどりょくのけっか、しごとをてにいれました。)After years of hard work, I got the job.
- 昨日、新しいスマホをゲットしたよ！(きのう、あたらしいすまほをげっとしたよ！)I got a new smartphone yesterday!
- 田中さんからプレゼントを手に入れたよ！(たなかさんからぷれぜんとをてにいれたよ！)I got a present from Tanaka-san!
- さっき、誰かに何かもらった。Sakki, dareka ni nanika moratta.I got something from someone just now.
Example conversation
Yota and Misaki are talking about a package in Yota's hand.
- 美咲 Misakiその袋、なあに？Sono fukuro, naa ni?What's in that bag?
- 陽太 Yotaあ、実家の親から何かもらった。A, jikka no oya kara nani ka moratta.Oh, I got something from my parents back home.
- 美咲 Misakiいいなあ。何が入ってるの？Ii naa. Nani ga haitteru no?Lucky you. What's inside?
- 陽太 Yotaたぶん、お菓子だと思う。Tabun, okashi da to omou.I think it's probably sweets.
