to receive — something given, sent, won, etc.

• Ich habe deinen Brief erhalten.

  I received your letter.

  Tatoeba · samueldora · CC BY 2.0 FR

• Ich erhielt einen Brief von meinem Bruder.

  I received a letter from my brother.

  Tatoeba · Tamy · CC BY 2.0 FR

to receive — a rebuke, punishment, fine, prison sentence, etc.

to receive — an injury, etc.

to receive — information, instructions, a message, etc.

to receive, to win — support, votes, an award, rights, a contract

to maintain, to keep — in a certain state

• Kleine Geschenke erhalten die Freundschaft.

  Little presents keep a friendship alive.

  Tatoeba · Esperantostern · CC BY 2.0 FR

• Das, was Generationen vor uns aufgebaut haben, müssen wir jetzt erhalten.

  Now we have to maintain what the generations before us have built up.

  Tatoeba · Esperantostern · CC BY 2.0 FR

to save

used to form the so-called dative-passiverare

surviving, extant