Understanding “〜てくれる” in Japanese
The Japanese expression 〜てくれる is a key grammatical structure used to describe actions done for the speaker’s benefit or someone close to them. It conveys gratitude and appreciation towards the doer. Let’s explore its usage in various contexts and provide a list of situations where “〜てくれる” is used.
What is 〜てくれる?
“〜てくれる” is derived from the verb くれる, which means “to give.” When attached to the て-form of a verb, it expresses that someone performs an action for the speaker (or someone in the speaker’s inner circle). It implies a sense of appreciation and goodwill.
- Structure:
[Person] が [Verb (て-form)] くれる
(Someone does something for me or someone in my group.) - Example:
- 友達が宿題を手伝ってくれた。
(Tomodachi ga shukudai o tetsudatte kureta.)
→ “My friend helped me with my homework.” - 先生が日本語を教えてくれました。
(Sensei ga Nihongo o oshiete kuremashita.)
→ “The teacher kindly taught me Japanese.”
- 友達が宿題を手伝ってくれた。
Situations Where 〜てくれる is Used
1. When Someone Helps You
Used when someone provides assistance that benefits the speaker.
- Example:
- 兄が荷物を運んでくれた。 (Ani ga nimotsu o hakonde kureta.)
→ “My older brother carried my luggage for me.”
- 兄が荷物を運んでくれた。 (Ani ga nimotsu o hakonde kureta.)
2. When Someone Gives You Something
Used when someone gives you an object (related to くれる itself).
- Example:
- 友達がプレゼントを買ってくれた。 (Tomodachi ga purezento o katte kureta.)
→ “My friend bought me a present.”
- 友達がプレゼントを買ってくれた。 (Tomodachi ga purezento o katte kureta.)
3. When Someone Does a Favor for You
Used when someone voluntarily does something kind.
- Example:
- 彼が傘を貸してくれた。 (Kare ga kasa o kashite kureta.)
→ “He lent me an umbrella.”
- 彼が傘を貸してくれた。 (Kare ga kasa o kashite kureta.)
4. When Someone Teaches or Instructs You
Used when someone imparts knowledge or skills.
- Example:
- 先生が漢字の書き方を教えてくれた。 (Sensei ga kanji no kakikata o oshiete kureta.)
→ “The teacher taught me how to write kanji.”
- 先生が漢字の書き方を教えてくれた。 (Sensei ga kanji no kakikata o oshiete kureta.)
5. When Someone Listens to You
Used when someone listens or gives attention to you.
- Example:
- 友達が悩みを聞いてくれた。 (Tomodachi ga nayami o kiite kureta.)
→ “My friend listened to my worries.”
- 友達が悩みを聞いてくれた。 (Tomodachi ga nayami o kiite kureta.)
6. When Someone Accompanies You
Used when someone goes with you somewhere.
- Example:
- 母が病院まで一緒に行ってくれた。 (Haha ga byouin made issho ni itte kureta.)
→ “My mother went to the hospital with me.”
- 母が病院まで一緒に行ってくれた。 (Haha ga byouin made issho ni itte kureta.)
7. When Someone Encourages or Supports You
Used when someone gives encouragement.
- Example:
- 彼が試験の前に励ましてくれた。 (Kare ga shiken no mae ni hagemashite kureta.)
→ “He encouraged me before the exam.”
- 彼が試験の前に励ましてくれた。 (Kare ga shiken no mae ni hagemashite kureta.)
8. When Someone Waits for You
Used when someone waits patiently for you.
- Example:
- 友達が駅で待ってくれた。 (Tomodachi ga eki de matte kureta.)
→ “My friend waited for me at the station.”
- 友達が駅で待ってくれた。 (Tomodachi ga eki de matte kureta.)
9. When Someone Fixes or Repairs Something for You
Used when someone fixes something for your benefit.
- Example:
- 父が自転車を直してくれた。 (Chichi ga jitensha o naoshite kureta.)
→ “My father fixed my bicycle.”
- 父が自転車を直してくれた。 (Chichi ga jitensha o naoshite kureta.)
10. When Someone Invites You or Gives You a Treat
Used when someone invites or pays for you.
- Example:
- 彼がコーヒーをおごってくれた。 (Kare ga koohii o ogotte kureta.)
→ “He treated me to coffee.”
- 彼がコーヒーをおごってくれた。 (Kare ga koohii o ogotte kureta.)
Notes on Usage
- Subject Consideration:
- The giver of the action is the grammatical subject, not the receiver.
- Example:
- 彼がケーキを作ってくれた。 (He made a cake for me.)
- 私にケーキを作ってくれた is unnatural (omit 私に).
- Politeness Levels:
- Casual: 〜てくれる
- Polite: 〜てくれます
- Past polite: 〜てくれました
- Not Used for Superior-to-Subordinate Actions:
- You cannot use 〜てくれる when a subordinate (like a junior worker) does something for a superior (like a boss). Instead, use 〜てくださいました (keigo).
Conclusion
The expression 〜てくれる is an essential part of Japanese communication, showing gratitude when someone does something beneficial for the speaker. By understanding the different contexts in which it is used, learners can express appreciation naturally and appropriately in Japanese conversations.
Do you have any questions about 〜てくれる? Let me know in the comments! 😊
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Vikas Kumar is a multilingual educator, language specialist, and book author, and the founder of My Language Classes, an independent language learning platform dedicated to structured, clarity-driven language education.
With over eight years of professional experience working with languages, Vikas has taught and supported learners across English, Spanish, and Japanese, helping them build strong grammatical foundations, practical usage skills, and long-term accuracy. His work focuses on eliminating confusion in language learning by emphasizing structure, patterns, and real usage over rote memorization.
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