Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
“To do [Verb] for someone (specifically for the speaker or the speaker’s inner circle).”
🎯 Primary Function
To indicate the reception of a beneficial action or service, emphasizing the direction of the action from the performer to the recipient (the speaker or a related person).
📋 Grammar Structure
V-te form + くれる (kureru)
Not applicable. This structure attaches to verbs.
Not applicable. This structure attaches to verbs.
V-ない form + でくれる (V-naide kureru)
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Used with the honorific form, V-te くださる (kudasaru). For example, してくださいます (shite kudasaimasu).
Informal Situations
Used commonly with the plain form, V-te くれる (kureru). For example, してくれた (shite kureta).
Written Language
Appears in casual writing, dialogues, and personal correspondence, but less common in formal reports.
Spoken Language
Extremely common and essential for expressing thanks and making requests.
💡 Common Applications
Expressing Gratitude for a Favor
This is the most common use. It explicitly acknowledges a kind deed done by another person for the speaker’s benefit, implying gratitude.
Example: 友達が荷物を持ってくれた。 (Tomodachi ga nimotsu o motte kureta. – My friend carried the luggage for me.)
Making a Request (Less direct than ください)
In the question form (V-te kureru?), it functions as a casual request, asking the listener to perform an action for the speaker.
Example: ちょっと、このペンを取ってくれる？ (Chotto, kono pen o totte kureru? – Hey, could you pass me this pen?)
Describing an Action Performed for a Third Party (From the Speaker’s POV)
The favor is directed towards someone within the speaker’s family/group, still maintaining the sense of internal benefit.
Example: 姉が子供に本を読んであげた。 (Ane ga kodomo ni hon o yonde kureta. – My older sister read a book for my child.)
Frequency
Very High (Essential for daily conversation)
Difficulty
N4 (Intermediate)
Tag:
Example Sentences
Example #1
友達が宿題を手伝ってくれた。
Furigana: ともだちが しゅくだいを てつだって くれた。
Romaji: Tomodachi ga shukudai o tetsudatte kureta.
English: My friend helped me with my homework.
Example #2
先生が文法を丁寧に説明してくださった。
Furigana: せんせいが ぶんぽうを ていねいに せつめいして くださった。
Romaji: Sensei ga bunpō o teinei ni setsumei shite kudasatta.
English: The teacher kindly explained the grammar for us.
Example #3
母がいつも美味しいケーキを焼いてくれる。
Furigana: ははが いつも おいしい ケーキを やいて くれる。
Romaji: Haha ga itsumo oishii kēki o yaite kureru.
English: My mother always bakes me a delicious cake.
Example #4
誰か、このドアを開けてくれる？
Furigana: だれか、この ドアを あけて くれる？
Romaji: Dareka, kono doa o akete kureru?
English: Will someone please open this door for me?
Example #5
いつも話を聞いてくれてありがとう。
Furigana: いつも はなしを きいて くれて ありがとう。
Romaji: Itsumo hanashi o kiite kurete arigatō.
English: Thank you for always listening to my stories.
Example #6
妹が部屋を掃除してくれた。
Furigana: いもうとが へやを そうじして くれた。
Romaji: Imōto ga heya o sōji shite kureta.
English: My younger sister cleaned the room for me.
Example #7
雨が降ってきたけど、傘を貸してくれた。
Furigana: あめが ふって きたけど、かさを かして くれた。
Romaji: Ame ga futte kita kedo, kasa o kashite kureta.
English: It started raining, but he lent me his umbrella.
Example #8
彼が無くした財布を見つけて返してくれた。
Furigana: かれが なくした さいふを みつけて かえして くれた。
Romaji: Kare ga nakushita saifu o mitsukete kaeshite kureta.
English: He found my lost wallet and returned it to me.
Example #9
社長が家まで送ってくれた。
Furigana: しゃちょうが いえまで おくって くれた。
Romaji: Shachō ga ie made okutte kureta.
English: The company president gave me a ride home. (As a favor)
Example #10
彼女は私に素敵なプレゼントを買ってくれた。
Furigana: かのじょは わたしに すてきな プレゼントを かって くれた。
Romaji: Kanojo wa watashi ni sutekina purezento o katte kureta.
English: She bought a wonderful present for me.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Directionality is Key (Giver → Speaker)
The key is the direction of the action. The giver (母) performs the action (くれる) toward the receiver (私/speaker). The receiver is often marked by に (ni) or is implied.
Example: 母が私にお金をくれた。 (Haha ga watashi ni okane o kureta.)
Implies Benefit and Gratitude
The action provides a benefit (being invited) to the speaker. This contrasts with てもらう, which focuses more on the speaker’s effort in receiving.
Example: 山田さんがパーティーに誘ってくれた。 (Yamada-san ga pātī ni sasotte kureta.)
Extending the Benefit to Inner Circle
When discussing a favor between two third parties, くれる is used if the favor benefits someone within the speaker’s inner group (e.g., family members).
Example: 父が母にプレゼントを買ってくれた。 (Chichi ga haha ni purezento o katte kureta.)
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ 友達が私に本を読んであげた。
✅ 友達が私に本を読んでくれた。
The action (reading the book) benefits the speaker (私). Therefore, くれる is correct. Using あげる is incorrect because it implies the speaker is giving the favor outward.
❌ 弟が私に部屋を掃除してくれた。 (Using に is technically correct but often redundant/unnatural)
✅ 弟が部屋を掃除してくれた。
When the subject performs the action for the speaker, the subject is typically marked with が (ga), and the speaker (私に) is often omitted but implied.
❌ 財布を拾ってもらってありがとう。
✅ 財布を拾ってくれてありがとう。
Using V-te kureru is naturally paired with ありがと う (thank you) because the favor is directed towards the speaker.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: くれる: Casual/Neutral (used with equals, friends, or family). くださる: Highly Polite/Honorific (used for superiors, elders, or formal situations).
Social Situations: Crucial for maintaining social harmony by acknowledging help received. Failure to use くださる when speaking to a superior can be considered rude.
Regional Variations: The fundamental grammar remains the same, but regional dialects may use different particles or auxiliary verbs. For example, in some Kansai dialects, the usage of these giving/receiving verbs can have subtle variations.
🔍 Subtle Differences
V-te くれる vs. V-te あげる
くれる means the action is directed *to* the speaker (receiver). あげる means the action is directed *away* from the speaker (giver).
When to use: Use くれる when you or your group received the favor. Use あげる when you or your group gave the favor.
V-te くれる vs. V-te もらう
くれる focuses on the GIVER’s kindness (The Giver *did* it for me). もらう focuses on the RECEIVER’s action of receiving (I *received* the favor from the Giver).
When to use: Use くれる when expressing pure gratitude and focusing on the giver’s action. Use もらう when emphasizing the fact that the speaker successfully obtained the service.
V-te くれる vs. V-te くださる
くださる is the honorific equivalent of くれる. It conveys respect and greater politeness.
When to use: Use くださる when the giver is a superior, elder, or someone outside your inner group whom you need to show respect to.
📝 Conjugation Notes
くれる is a Class 2 (Ichidan) verb and conjugates regularly: Present (くれる), Past (くれた), Negative (くれない), Request (くれない？). The honorific form is くださる (Class 1/Godan verb), conjugating as: くださる, くださった, くださらない.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Ensure correct pitch accent on くれる (H-L) and especially the formal くださる (L-H-L) to maintain clear communication and politeness level.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of くれる (kureru) as “coming” towards you, similar to the kanji 来 (kuru/come). The action “comes” to the speaker. Contrast this with あげる (ageru), which means the action goes “up” and “out.”
Other Grammar
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