てもらう
te-morau
Same arrow. This time I'm the one pulling it.
The picture The action still travels toward me, but now I pull the string. The subject is the hand receiving, not the hand giving. くれる is them handing it over; もらう is me pulling it in. Same picture, different subject.
Where the picture shows up in てもらう
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help I asked for and got
友達に空港まで送ってもらいました。
tomodachi ni kūkō made okutte moraimashita
I got a friend to drive me to the airport.
I asked my friend first, then opened the passenger door myself and got in.
くれる takes 友達が; もらう takes 友達に. The particle is the giveaway.
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something I need to obtain
部長にサインしてもらいます。
buchō ni sain shite moraimasu
I'll get the manager to sign it.
I spread the document out on the manager's desk and slide the pen across to his side.
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the polite way to ask
写真を撮ってもらえますか。
shashin o totte moraemasu ka
Could you take a photo for us?
I put the camera into a passer-by's hands and point out where the shutter is.
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what I came away with
医者に薬を出してもらった。
isha ni kusuri o dashite moratta
The doctor gave me some medicine.
I walk out of the consulting room with a paper bag of medicine in my hand.
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pulling with more respect
少し待っていただけませんか。
sukoshi matte itadakemasen ka
Could you wait a moment, please?
A small bow, the request offered with both hands, and the string pulled very gently.
いただく is the humble form of もらう. Use it with customers and superiors.
All of it in one picture
てもらう is the same picture as くれる, shot from the other end. The action still travels toward me, but the hand pulling the string is mine, so I become the subject. Asking a friend and then riding to the airport, laying the document out and sliding the pen over for a signature, putting the camera into a stranger's hands — every one is a string I pulled. Walking out with the medicine is what came back along it. Swap in いただく and you are pulling the same string, only far more carefully.