책을 받다
To 받다 책
Literally: book [object marker] receive
Use this phrase whenever someone hands you a book, especially as a meaningful gift or resource.
In 15 Seconds
- Means receiving a book as a gift or loan.
- Use with particles like ~에게서 to show the giver.
- Commonly used for birthdays, school, or office contexts.
Meaning
This phrase literally means to receive a book from someone, whether as a gift, a loan, or a handover.
Key Examples
3 of 6Telling a friend about a birthday gift
생일 선물로 친구한테 책을 받았어.
I received a book from my friend as a birthday gift.
Reporting to a teacher
선생님께 교과서를 받았습니다.
I received the textbook from the teacher.
Texting a friend about a delivery
나 드디어 그 택배(책) 받았어!
I finally received that book (package)!
Cultural Background
Books have long been a symbol of status and intellect in Korea. Gifting a book, especially with a handwritten dedication on the first page, is a common way to show deep respect or affection. During graduation seasons, books remain one of the most popular and traditional gifts given to students.
Check the First Page
In Korea, it's a 'secret' tradition to check the first blank page for a handwritten note. If you receive a book, always look there first before you start reading!
Don't forget the Giver
If someone much older gives you a book, don't just say '받았어'. Use '주셨어요' (they gave it to me) to sound much more polite and culturally aware.
In 15 Seconds
- Means receiving a book as a gift or loan.
- Use with particles like ~에게서 to show the giver.
- Commonly used for birthdays, school, or office contexts.
What It Means
At its core, 책을 받다 is a straightforward way to say you've been given a book. It’s not just about the physical act of holding a new item. It often implies a social exchange. In Korean culture, books are meaningful objects. When you say you 'received' one, you're usually talking about a gift or a necessary resource. It’s a neutral phrase that works in almost any setting.
How To Use It
To use this phrase, you simply need to know who gave it to you. You use the particle ~에게서 or ~한테 for the person giving the book. For example, 친구에게서 책을 받았어 means 'I received a book from a friend.' If you want to be more specific about it being a gift, you can say 선물로 책을 받았어요. The verb 받다 changes based on the tense. Use 받았어요 for the past tense, which is how you'll use it most often.
When To Use It
Use this phrase when you're opening birthday presents. It’s also perfect for when a senior at school hands down their old textbooks to you. You can use it when you finally get that limited edition manga you pre-ordered (if it was sent to you). It even works in a professional setting. If your boss gives you a manual or a report in book form, you 'received' it. It’s a very versatile 'catch-all' phrase for getting literature.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use 책을 받다 if you went to a store and paid for the book yourself. In that case, use 책을 사다 (to buy a book). Also, if you just found a book on a bench, you didn't 'receive' it; you 'found' it (찾다 or 줍다). Avoid using this phrase if you are the one giving the book. That would be 책을 주다. It sounds like a small distinction, but using the wrong direction of the action will definitely confuse your Korean friends!
Cultural Background
In Korea, books are highly respected gifts. They represent knowledge, thoughtfulness, and personal growth. It is very common for the giver to write a short, heartfelt message on the inside cover. This turns a simple book into a cherished memory. When you 'receive' a book in Korea, it's often seen as the giver sharing a piece of their mind or heart with you. It’s much more than just paper and ink; it's a bridge between two people.
Common Variations
If you want to sound a bit more specific, try these. 책을 선물 받다 means 'to receive a book as a gift.' This is the most common way to talk about presents. If you are getting a book back that you lent out, use 책을 돌려받다. If someone higher than you (like a teacher) gives you a book, you might use the more polite 책을 받들다 in very specific historical contexts, but in modern Korean, you just use honorifics like 선생님께 책을 받았습니다 to show respect.
Usage Notes
The phrase is neutral and very safe to use. Just remember to use honorifics (like `받았습니다`) when speaking to superiors or elders.
Check the First Page
In Korea, it's a 'secret' tradition to check the first blank page for a handwritten note. If you receive a book, always look there first before you start reading!
Don't forget the Giver
If someone much older gives you a book, don't just say '받았어'. Use '주셨어요' (they gave it to me) to sound much more polite and culturally aware.
Digital Books Count Too
You can use this phrase for e-books! If someone sends you a PDF or a Kindle gift, you can still say '책을 받았어'.
Examples
6생일 선물로 친구한테 책을 받았어.
I received a book from my friend as a birthday gift.
A very common, casual way to describe a gift.
선생님께 교과서를 받았습니다.
I received the textbook from the teacher.
Uses formal endings to show respect to the teacher.
나 드디어 그 택배(책) 받았어!
I finally received that book (package)!
Expresses excitement about receiving something expected.
생일인데 또 수학 책을 받았네. 하하.
It's my birthday and I received another math book. Haha.
Uses sarcasm to show the gift wasn't exactly what they wanted.
할머니께서 아끼시던 책을 받았어요.
I received a book that my grandmother cherished.
Shows emotional weight behind the object being received.
회의 자료로 사용할 책을 받았습니다.
I received the book to be used as meeting material.
Professional context where the book is a resource.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct particle meaning 'from'.
친구___ 책을 받았어요.
The particle '에게서' (or '한테서') is used to indicate the person from whom you receive something.
Choose the correct past tense form of '받다'.
어제 선물을 ___.
'받았어요' is the standard polite past tense form of '받다'.
🎉 Score: /2
Visual Learning Aids
Formality Levels of 'Receiving a Book'
Used with close friends or younger siblings.
책 받았어.
Standard way to speak to acquaintances or colleagues.
책을 받았어요.
Used in business or with people of higher status.
책을 받았습니다.
When the person giving the book is highly respected.
선생님께서 책을 주셨습니다. (I received from teacher)
When to say '책을 받다'
Birthday Party
Receiving a novel from a friend.
School Office
Getting a free textbook from the school.
Online Shopping
The delivery man hands you a book.
Library
The librarian hands you a reserved book.
Inheritance
Getting an old collection from a relative.
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsIt means 'to receive', 'to get', or 'to take'. It is a very common verb used for everything from phone calls to gifts.
Technically yes, but usually people say 책을 빌리다 (to borrow a book) if it's from a library. Use 받다 if the librarian specifically hands you a reserved item.
You would say 엄마한테서 책을 받았어요. The 한테서 indicates the source of the book.
In very formal settings, you might use 수령하다 (to receive/accept delivery), but 받다 is perfectly fine for 99% of situations.
You can say 상품으로 책을 받았어요. This means 'I received a book as a prize/product'.
No, 받다 specifically implies someone else gave it to you. If you bought it, use 사다 (to buy).
Yes, though usually people say 잡지를 받다. 책 is a general term for books, but it can cover magazines in casual talk.
The opposite is 책을 주다 (to give a book) or 책을 보내다 (to send a book).
You can say 책을 받고 싶어요. This is a great way to drop a hint for your birthday!
얻다 usually implies you gained the book through some effort or luck, whereas 받다 is a simple transfer from one person to another.
Yes, if someone sends you an e-book file, you can say 파일로 책을 받았어요 (I received the book as a file).
Use the variation 책을 돌려받았어요. This specifically means you received it back after lending it.
Related Phrases
책을 선물하다 (To gift a book)
책을 빌리다 (To borrow a book)
책을 돌려주다 (To give back a book)
책을 읽다 (To read a book)
책을 사다 (To buy a book)
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