How to say "give" in Japanese

• くださるJLPT N4approx.Common
  godan verb (irregular), transitive verbThe respectful (sonkeigo) way to say that someone gives you or your side something — use it when the giver is a person you speak of respectfully, such as a teacher or elder.
• くれるJLPT N4approx.Common
  ichidan verb (irregular), transitive verbThe plain word for giving toward you or your side, as when a friend gives you a present; it can also mean to let someone have something, and is the non-honorific counterpart of くださる.
  友達ともだちがはがきをくれるように私に頼たのんだ。↗

  A friend of mine asked me to send her a postcard.
• 与えるあたえるJLPT N3approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbTo grant, confer, or bestow: giving from a higher position or an authority to someone below, as when an office grants permission or a school confers a prize; the tone is official or hierarchical.
  人ひとは天てんから与あたえられるのでなければ、なにもうけることはできません。↗

  A man can receive only what is given to him from heaven.
• 施すほどこすJLPT N1approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbTo give time, money, or goods as donations or charity — helping those in need; think of donating money or supplies rather than handing someone a gift.
• 贈るおくるJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbTo give as a gift or present: birthday and wedding presents, tokens of thanks, flowers for a host. This is the word when the giving is essentially gift-giving.
  ドロシーは彼かれにすばらしい贈り物おくりものを贈おくった。↗

  Dorothy sent him a nice present.

Choose 「くれる」 for giving toward you or your side, 「くださる」 when speaking respectfully of the giver, 「与える」 for granting or bestowing on someone of lower status, 「贈る」 for gifts, and 「施す」 for donating time, money, or goods.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• くださるto give
• くれるto give
• 与えるあたえるto give (esp. to someone of lower status)
• 施すほどこすto give (time, money, goods)
• 贈るおくるto give (as a gift)
• 授けるさずけるto grant
• 催すもよおすto hold (an event)
• 凹むへこむto be dented
• 課するかするto impose (a tax, fine, etc.)
• 課すかすto impose (a tax, fine, etc.)
• 給うたまうto give
• 給うたもうto give
• ギブgive
• 進ぜるしんぜるto give
• くれてやるto give
• 進ずるしんずるto give
• くんろto give
• 挙げるあげるto give (an example)
• 持たせるもたせるto have someone hold
• 呈すていすto present
• 貢ぐみつぐto support (someone) financially
• 取るとるto pass
• ぶつto make (a speech)
• 吐くはくto give (an opinion)
• 捧げるささげるto give
• 貸すかすto hand (over)
• 垂れるたれるto give (e.g. lesson, instruction, scolding) (to someone of lower status)
• 差し上げるさしあげるto give
• 発するはっするto issue
• 差し出すさしだすto sacrifice
• 恵むめぐむto give (money, etc.)
• 渡すわたすto hand over
• 任せるまかせるto leave (to chance, one's imagination, etc.)
• 着せるきせるto pin (e.g. a crime on someone)
• 賜るたまわるto give
• あてがうto give
• こますto give
• 捧ぐささぐto give
• やるto give (esp. to someone of equal or lower status)
• あげるto give
• どうぞto give
• つけるto load
• ひらくto hold (meeting, party, etc.)
• 包むつつむto give (money in an envelope; as a wedding gift, funeral offering, etc.)
• 加えるくわえるto inflict (damage)
• 投じるとうじるto administer (medicine)
• 投ずるとうずるto administer (medicine)