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N4

てもらう

To get someone to do, To have someone do

私わたしは母ははに宿題しゅくだいをしてもらった。

I had my mom do my homework.

Explanation

「〜てもらう」 means 'have someone do something for me' or 'receive the benefit of someone doing it'. The subject is the person who benefits (me), and the one who acts takes 「に」: 「友達に手伝ってもらった」 (My friend helped me). It often carries the sense that I asked for it. To an elder or superior, use 「〜ていただく」.

Mixed up with

In Chinese you say 'the teacher corrected my paper for me', and learners translate it as 「先生が〜てくれた」. If you asked the teacher for help, 「私は先生に論文を直していただいた」 is more natural.

The giver normally takes 「に」, but an organization such as a school or company can take 「から」: 「大学から奨学金をもらった」.

Examples

  1. 日本語にほんごが話はなせないから友達ともだちに行いき方かたを聞きいてもらう。

    Because I can't speak Japanese, I'm going to have my friend ask for directions on my behalf.

  2. 私わたしは虫むしが嫌きらいなので妻つまに虫むしを捕とってもらう。

    Since I hate bugs, I get my wife to catch them.

  3. 昨日きのうは朝あさから頭あたまが痛いたかったから医者いしゃに診みてもらった。

    Because my head hurt since the morning yesterday, I had a doctor look at it.

Tested 8 times in past papers

N3 · Dec 2020, Q43N2 · Dec 2019, Q42N2 · Jul 2019, Q41N3 · Dec 2018, Q47N4 · Jul 2018, Q58N4 · Jul 2013, Q59N4 · Jul 2012, Q48N4 · Jul 2010, Q58