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There are (at least) two words which mean "to give": あげる and くれる. The former
is used when you give to someone else, and the latter is used when someone
else gives to you.

But which do you use if you want to say that someone else gave something to
another person, where both parties are outside your social circle?
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2015-04-08T00:58:33.670
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word-choice giving-and-receiving
Giving and receiving with two 3rd persons
That would definitely be 「あげる」 if you are speaking from the **giver's
standpoint**.

「AさんはBさんにプレゼントをあげた。」= "A gave B a present."

If, however, you are speaking from the **receiver's standpoint** , you would
use 「もらう」.

「BさんはAさんに（or から）プレゼントをもらった。」 = "B received a present from A."

「くれる」 **cannot** be used to talk about a transaction between two third
parties.
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2015-04-08T01:10:50.463
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For your situation you will want to use あげる, which is used when the recipient
is not in your social circle. The giver can be anyone.

Take note of social status too. If the recipient is **socially superior** the
giver, then you should use 差し上げる（さしあげる), but you don't have to. When the
recipient is **socially equal, or slightly lower** , then you use あげる。 If the
recipient is inferior you can choose to use やる, but that is often only for
pets, plants, or your in-group inferiors (such as younger siblings).

> 田中さんは山田先生に本を差し **上げました／あげました** 。 Mr. Tanaka gave Mr. Yamada (social
> superior) a book.
>
> 山田先生は田中さんに本を **上げました** 。Mr. Yamada gave Mr. Tanaka (social inferior) a book.
>
> 田中さんは鈴木さんに本を **上げました** 。Mr. Tanaka gave Mr. Suzuki (social equal) a book.
>
> 田中さんは子猫にえさを **やりました** 。Mr. Tanaka gave the kitten (social inferior) some
> food.

**Note:** くれる can be used when the recipient is in your social circle (your
family), not just yourself. If you (or someone in your family) receives
something from a social superior, you have to use くださる.

> 山田先生は母に本をくださいました。Mr. Yamada (social superior) gave my mom a book
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2015-04-08T07:26:17.117
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You need to refine your thinking on these verbs. Rather than thinking of あげる
as you give to someone else, think of あげる as anyone giving something to anyone
else _except_ for when the recipient is you/your in-group.

Then you adjust for register (さしあげる vs あげる, etc.), but within a single
register, that's how you cover all your "to give" bases with あげる／くれる。
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2015-04-17T08:27:49.357
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