Grammar vs. politeness: a tale of two evils


In "The structure of the Japanese language", Susumo Kuno uses the example (p.
130)

> John wa sensei ni kono hon o {moratta / itadaita}.

Both have a problem:

  * _itadaku_ should be used only in the first person,
  * _morau_ "would result in sentences expressing a lack of proper respect for the teacher".

_itadaku_ is "used often because there is no better way of expressing the
intended meaning"

Is there really no third option?




いただく is also used in the second and third person when the subject wants to
respect the indirect object by humbling the subject. For example,
あなたは(彼は)、先生から本をいただいた.

もらう is plain, もらいます is polite, いただく is the humble form of もらう. If you use
いただく, you can show your respect to someone by humbling yourself.

This would help you. <http://web.ydu.edu.tw/~uchiyama/1h93fy/jyujyu.html>

