How to say "receive" in Japanese

• いただくJLPT N4approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbThe humble word for receiving or accepting something from someone; it lowers yourself toward that person, so choosing it over もらう makes the sentence polite.
• もらうJLPT N4approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbThe neutral word for receiving something from another person, such as a gift or a favor; when you need politeness, いただく takes its place.
  それじゃ、僕ぼくはチキンをもらいましょう。↗

  Well then, I'll have chicken.
• うけるJLPT N4approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbThe broadest of these: to receive something that comes to you or is directed at you, such as an offer, a question, a blow, or an influence.
  ６５歳さい以上いじょうの人ひとたちは政府せいふから年金ねんきんを受うけている。↗

  People 65 and above get a pension from the government.
• 受け取るうけとるJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbTo receive something handed or sent to you and take it into your hands — a parcel, a letter, money — or, figuratively, to accept what someone says or means.
  この贈り物おくりものは受け取うけとれません。↗

  I cannot accept this gift.
• 迎えるむかえるJLPT N4approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbOnly for the welcoming sense of 'receive': to greet or receive someone or something that arrives — guests, visitors, the new year — often by going out to meet them.
  医者いしゃを迎むかえにやったとき彼かれが病気びょうきになって１週間しゅうかんたっていた。↗

  He had been ill for a week when they sent for a doctor.

Choose 「もらう」 for neutral receiving from a person, 「いただく」 as its humble counterpart, 「受け取る」 for taking delivery of something handed or sent, 受ける for undergoing what comes at you, and 「迎える」 only for welcoming arrivals.

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

• いただくto receive
• もらうto receive
• うけるto receive
• 受け取るうけとるto receive
• 迎えるむかえるto go out to meet
• 受け入れるうけいれるto accept
• 受け付けるうけつけるto accept
• 引き取るひきとるto take into one's possession
• 授かるさずかるto be awarded (e.g. a prize)
• もてなすto treat (a guest)
• 譲り受けるゆずりうけるto take over
• 被るこうむるto suffer
• 落掌らくしょうreceive
• 領するりょうするto own
• 受け皿となるうけざらとなるto act as a receptacle
• 対するたいするto receive (a client, etc.)
• 食らうくらうto receive (e.g. a blow)
• 接するせっするto receive (e.g. visitor)
• 借りるかりるto make use of (another's help, wisdom, etc.)
• 承るうけたまわるto receive (order)
• 負うおうto suffer (an injury)
• 取るとるto get
• 取り持つとりもつto entertain (guests)
• はむto receive (a salary)
• 拝するはいするto receive
• あずかるto receive
• 浴するよくするto receive (an honor, etc.)
• 対すたいすto receive (a client, etc.)
• 浴すよくすto receive (an honor, etc.)
• 拝すはいすto receive
• 申し受けるもうしうけるto accept (e.g. orders)
• 喫すきっすto suffer (e.g. defeat)
• 出るでるto be given