How to Use 〜てあげるin Japanese

〜てあげる: To Give (an Action) in Japanese

When learning Japanese, you will often encounter the phrase 〜てあげる (te ageru), which means “to give (an action).” This phrase is used when the speaker or someone performs a beneficial action for another person. The nuance of 〜てあげる is that the action is done out of kindness or generosity.

How to Use 〜てあげる

The structure is simple:

[Person] は [Recipient] に [Action in 〜て-form] + あげる

Example:

わたしはともだちに本を貸してあげました。
(Watashi wa tomodachi ni hon o kashite agemashita.)
→ I lent a book to my friend (as a favor).

Different Forms of 〜てあげる

The verb あげる can be conjugated into different forms to match the politeness level:

Form	Usage
〜てあげる	Casual/plain form
〜てあげます	Polite form
〜てあげて	Te-form for requests
〜てあげない	Negative form (not doing the action)
〜てあげなかった	Past negative form

Situations Where 〜てあげる Is Used

1. Doing Something Nice for Someone Else

わたしはちょうとせんせいににもつを持ってあげました。
(Watashi wa chouto sensei ni nimotsu o motte agemashita.)
→ I carried the teacher’s luggage for them.

2. Helping Someone

おとうさんはぼくに自転車の修理をしてあげた。
(Otousan wa boku ni jitensha no shuuri o shite ageta.)
→ Dad fixed my bicycle for me.

3. Giving Advice or Instruction

わたしはともだちに日本語を教えてあげる。
(Watashi wa tomodachi ni nihongo o oshiete ageru.)
→ I will teach my friend Japanese.

4. Buying Something for Someone

おかあさんはいもうとに花を買ってあげました。
(Okaasan wa imouto ni hana o katte agemashita.)
→ Mom bought flowers for my little sister.

5. Making a Favorable Gesture

私は友達にコーヒーを作ってあげました。
(Watashi wa tomodachi ni koohii o tsukutte agemashita.)
→ I made coffee for my friend.

6. Expressing Kindness in a Relationship

けんたろうはかのじょにマッサージをかいてあげた。
(Kentaro wa kanojo ni massaaji o kaite ageta.)
→ Kentaro gave his girlfriend a massage.

7. Helping Children or Animals

おねえさんは犬に食べ物をあげてあげた。
(Oneesan wa inu ni tabemono o agete ageta.)
→ The older sister gave food to the dog.

Things to Remember About 〜てあげる

Used when the action is beneficial: You should only use 〜てあげる when the action is helpful or kind.
Do not use for superiors: Avoid using 〜てあげる when speaking about actions for a superior (e.g., boss, teacher) as it may sound rude. Instead, use 〜てさしあげる.
Casual tone: This phrase is often used in informal or everyday conversations rather than in formal writing.

Summary Table: When to Use 〜てあげる

Situation	Example
Helping a friend	はさみを買ってあげた。 (Bought scissors for them.)
Teaching someone	えいごを教えてあげる。 (Teach English to them.)
Doing a favor	部屋を掃除してあげる。 (Clean the room for them.)
Helping animals	犬に飯をあげてあげる。 (Give food to a dog.)

By mastering 〜てあげる, you can express kindness and generosity in Japanese naturally! Practice using it in real conversations to make your speech sound more fluent and native-like.

Do you have any questions about 〜てあげる? Let me know in the comments!

If you enjoyed this lesson, be sure to check out more posts like this on my blog at My Language Classes. Don’t forget to subscribe my YouTube channel and follow me on Instagram for the latest language learning tips and lessons. Leave a comment below to share your thoughts, or ask any questions you have about nouns.

Happy learning! 😊

📚 Continue Learning Japanese

Expressing a Change in Ability or Habit: 〜ようになる | My Language Classes

Expressing “without doing” in Japanese: 〜ないで | My Language Classes

Understanding 〜なくてもいい | My Language Classes

Expressing Completion or Regret in Japanese:〜てしまう| My Language Classes

Understanding 〜みたい in Japanese | My Language Classes

Using 〜ば (Conditional) | My Language Classes

Understanding 〜たら (If/When) | My Language Classes

Using 〜と for Natural Consequence | My Language Classes

Using 〜なら for hypothetical situations | My Language Classes

All Japanese Conditionals 〜ば, 〜たら, 〜と, 〜ならExplained | My Language Classes