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道Nihongo Path

Word 3814 of 4449

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給う

たまう

to grant; to bestow (by a superior); to deign to do

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Examples

  1. 我々に生命を与えた神は、同時に自由をも与え給うた。

    われわれにせいめいをあたえたかみは、どうじにじゆうをもあたえたもうた。

    The God who gave us life gave us liberty at the same time.

  2. 天が我に力を給え。

    てんがわれにちからをたまえ。

    Heaven, grant me strength.

  3. 王は家臣に土地を給うた。

    おうはかしんにとちをたもうた。

    The king bestowed land upon his retainer.

Common patterns

与え給う
to deign to give
御覧じ給う
to deign to look upon
賜る
to receive (from a superior)

Memory tip

Archaic and literary — scripture, classical texts, period drama. Note the direction: 給う is the superior giving downward, while 賜る (たまわる) is the humble side receiving. The imperative 給え also survives as a stiff masculine 'do it' (来給え).

Kanji in this word

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What does 給う mean?