Grammar Info
N4 Lesson 7: 3/18

~てもらう
To get someone to do, To have someone do

Structure
Casual
Polite
Verb[て]+ もらう

Politeness Levels
Verb[て]+ もらいます

Politeness Levels
Details
Register Polite
使用域 敬語
貰う
Information
Being slightly more direct than てくれる, てもらう removes the meaning of ‘to bestow’ (to the speaker), and focuses on the meaning of ‘to receive’ (from the giver). With てもらう, will mark the person that ‘did something’ for the subject, while (or ) will highlight the receiver themselves.
In English, this grammar structure is regularly translated as ‘to have (someone) do (A) for you’, or ‘to get (someone) to do (A) for you’. Literally, it means ‘to receive the action of (A)’.
  • 日本語(にほんご)話(はな)せないから友達(ともだち)に行(い)き方(かた)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.
  • 私(わたし)虫(むし)嫌(きら)いなので妻(つま)に虫(むし)捕(と)ってもらう
    Since I hate bugs, I get my wife to catch them.
てもらう is also regularly used when receiving a service from someone, as てくれる would imply that the action was a favor.
  • 昨日(きのう)朝(あさ)から頭(あたま)痛(いた)かったから医者(いしゃ)に見(み)てもらった
    Because my head hurt since the morning yesterday, I had a doctor look at it.
  • 朝(あさ)から頭(あたま)痛(いた)かったから病院(びょういん)に行(い)っ、医者(いしゃ)に見(み)てくれた
    Because I had a headache since this morning, I went to the doctor and he checked it out for me.
Slow Male
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私(わたし)母(はは)宿題(しゅくだい)てもらった
I had my mom do my homework.
Play  
クリスマスに犬(いぬ)買(か)ってもらうかもしれない
I might have (someone) buy me a dog for Christmas.
Play  
この仕事(しごと)手伝(てつだ)ってもらう
I will get someone to help with this work.
Play  
Books
Genki II 1st Edition
Page 34 & 74
みんなの日本語 I
Page 152 [CH 24]
Tobira
Page 72
Genki II 2nd Edition
Page 56 & 100
Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
Page 174