In Japanese, we often use the te-form of a verb before a word meaning “give” or “receive” to express that the action was done as a favor to someone else. For example:
There are three verbs that are especially common in this construction:
- あげるTranscription: ageruTranslation: to give
- くれるTranscription: kureruTranslation: to give
- もらうTranscription: morauTranslation: to receive
Although this pattern is very common in Japanese, I often see learners forget to use it where necessary because it doesn’t have an easy parallel in English. In this post, we’ll go over how and when to use each of these giving and receiving verbs to discuss giving and receiving favors, so you can get your Japanese sounding more natural.
Doing a favor: あげる [ageru] andくれる [kureru]
To express that someone did a favor for someone else, you can use the verbs あげる transcribed ageru or くれる transcribed kureru after the te-form of the verb for the favor.
Favor
te-form
Giving verb
あげる / くれる
With either verb, the following particles are used:
The doer of the favor is the subject, marked by は transcribed wa or が transcribed ga.
The recipient or beneficiary of the favor is most often marked by the particle に transcribed ni, but can be marked by other particles, depending on the context. We’ll discuss this more below!
The object of the verb is marked, as usual, by the particle を transcribed o.
When to include 〜てあげる or 〜てくれる?
In Japanese, you’ll add an ending like 〜てあげる transcribed -te ageru or 〜てくれる transcribed -te kureru when you want to clarify or emphasize that the action was done to benefit someone.
A sentence will often be grammatical without these endings, but it will sound more factual, and less like anyone might have been grateful for the action. Compare these sentences:
- Simple Sentence:(私は) 友達を病院に連れていきました。Transcription: (Watashi wa) tomodachi o byōin ni tsurete ikimashita.Translation: I took my friend to the hospital.Conveys the facts.
- Using 〜てあげる:te-formgiving verb(私は) 友達を病院に連れていってあげました。Transcription: (Watashi wa) tomodachi o byōin ni tsurete itte agemashita.Translation: I took my friend to the hospital (for him).Your friend was probably grateful.
And here’s a pair of examples using 〜てくれる transcribed -te kureru instead:
- Simple Sentence:友達が(私に)写真を送ってきました。Transcription: Tomodachi ga (watashi ni) shashin o okutte kimashita.Translation: My friend sent me photos.I probably felt neutral about this.
- Using 〜てあげる:te-formgiving verb友達が(私に)写真を送ってきてくれました。Transcription: Tomodachi ga (watashi ni) shashin o okutte kite kuremashita.Translation: My friend sent me photos (for me).I was grateful for this.
This distinction becomes especially noticeable when you’re using a production verb like 作る transcribed tsukurumeaning to make, 焼く transcribed yakumeaning to bake, 歌う transcribed utaumeaning to sing, or 描く transcribed kakumeaning to draw. For example:
- Simple Sentence:姉が歌を歌いました。Transcription: Ane ga uta o utaimashita.Translation: My older sister sang a song.We don’t know who her audience was.
- Using 〜てあげる:te-formgiving verb姉が(私に)歌を歌ってくれました。Transcription: Ane ga (watashi ni) uta o utatte kuremashita.Translation: My older sister sang me a song.I was her audience.
In cases where someone is very clearly performing a favor, it can sound very unnatural if you don’t include the “giving” verb:
- Simple Sentence:❓ 知らない人が(私に)道を教えました。Transcription: Shiranai hito ga (watashi ni) michi o oshiemashita.Translation: A stranger showed me the directions.
- Using 〜てあげる:te-form"giving" verb✅知らない人が(私に)道を教えてくれました。Transcription: Shiranai hito ga (watashi ni) michi o oshiete kuremashita.Translation: A stranger showed me the directions.I was her audience.
〜てあげる vs. 〜てくれる: What’s the difference?
Just like when they’re used to discuss giving someone an object, the verbs あげる transcribed ageru and くれる transcribed kureru are used quite differently after the te-form. The verb you should use depends on who is in the in-group (the speaker and their “team”) and who is in the out-group (other people). Here’s a quick summary:
| “Giving” Verb | Very broad use description |
|---|---|
あげる Transcription: ageru | The giver is the speaker or an in-group member |
The giver and receiver are both out-group members | |
くれる Transcription: kureru | The receiver is the speaker or an in-group member |
| Giver | Recipient | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Speaker | あげる | あげる | |
| In-group | くれる | あげる | あげる |
| Out-group | くれる | くれる | あげる |
| In-group vs. Out-group (some examples) | ||
|---|---|---|
Discussing the residents of your apartment complex | The speaker’s family or roommates | Other residents of the complex |
A soccer tournament | Other players on the speakers team | Players or fans of other teams |
We see similar differences in how we use these two verbs to discuss giving and receiving favors: あげる transcribed ageru tends to be used when an in-group member does a favor, while くれる transcribed kureru is used when an in-group member receives the favor. Let’s have a look!
When to use 〜てあげる [te ageru] for giving favors?
You’ll use 〜てあげる transcribed te ageru to discuss doing a favor, in the same contexts where you would use the verb あげる transcribed ageru to discuss giving an object. The person who does the favor is the “giver” and the person who receives the favor is the “recipient.”
This is a favor that the speaker shouldn’t need to feel gratitude for. Either because the speaker’s group performed the favor, or because it’s happening between other people.
Let’s go through the main use cases and look at some examples! The “doer” is the person who does the favor, and the “beneficiary” is the person who benefits from or receives a favor.
| Doer | Beneficiary | Example |
|---|---|---|
Speaker | In-group | te-formgiving verb (私は) 母に料理を作ってあげます。 Transcription: (Watashi wa) haha ni ryōri o tsukutte agemasu. Translation: I’m going to cook for my mom. |
Speaker | Out-group | te-formgiving verb (私は) 近所の人におみやげを買ってあげました。 Transcription: (Watashi wa) kinjo no hito ni omiyage o katte agemashita. Translation: I bought souvenirs for my neighbors. |
In-group | In-group | te-formgiving verb 兄が妹に英語を教えてあげました。 Transcription: Ani ga imōto ni eigo o oshiete agemashita. Translation: My older brother taught English to my younger sister. |
In-group | Out-group | te-formgiving verb 私の父は、バスでお年寄りに席をゆずってあげました。 Transcription: Watashi no chichi wa basu de otoshiyori ni seki o yuzutte agemashita. Translation: My dad gave up his seat for an elderly person on the bus. |
Out-group | Out-group | te-formgiving verb 山田さんが佐藤さんに教科書を見せてあげました。 Transcription: Yamada san ga Satō san ni kyōkasho o misete agemashita. Translation: Ms. Yamada showed her textbook to Ms. Sato. |
Here are a few common ways you might see 〜てあげる transcribed te ageru used in a sentence:
Add 〜てください transcribed te kudasaimeaning please do something to ask someone, like an employee or a child, to do a favor for someone else.
te-formgiving verb佐藤さんに、パソコンの使い方を教えてあげて下さい。Transcription: Satō san ni pasokon no tsukai kata o oshiete agete kudasai.Translation: Please teach Mr. Sato how to use computers.Add たい transcribed taimeaning want to do something to emphasize your willingness to do someone a favor.
te-formgiving verb将来、子供たちに、スポーツの楽しさを教えてあげたいです。Transcription: Shōrai, kodomotachi ni, supōtsu no tanoshisa o oshiete agetai desu.Translation: In the future, I want to teach kids the joy of sports.You can use the u-verb やる transcribed yaru to replace あげる transcribed ageru, if the receiver is an in-group member of a lower social status:
te-formgiving verb弟にゲームを買ってやりました。Transcription: Otōto ni gēmu o katte yarimashita.Translation: I bought video games for my younger brother.
When to use 〜てくれる [te kureru] for giving favors?
We use the ending 〜てくれる transcribed te kureru when someone does a favor that the speaker would probably be grateful for. You’ll mostly use it in three situations:
| Doer | Beneficiary | Example |
|---|---|---|
Out-group | Speaker | te-formgiving verb 知らない人が、(私の) 財布を拾ってくれました。 Transcription: Shiranai hito ga (watashi no) saifu o hirotte kuremashita. Translation: A stranger picked up my wallet for me. |
In-group | Speaker | te-formgiving verb 父が、(私に) かばんを買ってくれました。 Transcription: Chichi ga (watashi ni) kaban o katte kuremashita. Translation: My dad bought a bag for me. |
Out-group | In-group | te-formgiving verb 近所の人が、娘にお菓子を作ってくれました。 Transcription: Kinjo no hito ga musume ni okashi o tsukutte kuremashita. Translation: The neighbor made snacks for my daughter. |
Most often, this sentence structure is used as a polite way to acknowledge a favor. If someone has clearly done you a favor, it can sound very odd to not include this ending, as though they did it accidentally or for their own reasons:
There are a few other situations, though, where you can use the te-form + くれる transcribed kureru:
When actions just happen to benefit the speaker, you can use 〜てくれる transcribed te kureru to show your gratitude, even when the action wasn’t intentionally done as a favor.
te-formgiving verb子供が寝てくれたので、家の掃除ができました。Transcription: Kodomo ga nete kureta node, ie no sōji ga dekimashita.Translation: As my kid fell asleep, I was able to clean the house.The kid fell asleep because she was tired, not to help you out, but the fact it happened still benefitted you!To show gratitude for something that nobody did on purpose at all.
te-formgiving verb寒い冬が終わって、やっと春が来てくれました。Transcription: Samui fuyu ga owatte, yatto haru ga kite kuremashita.Translation: The cold winter has ended, and spring has finally come.There are also two common fixed expressions that always use 〜てくれる transcribed te kureru:
Expression Example 〜てくれてありがとうTranscription: te kurete arigatōTranslation: thank you for [verbing] for mete-formgiving verbいつも手伝ってくれてありがとうございます。Transcription: Itsumo tetsudatte kurete arigatō gozaimasu.Translation: Thank you for always helping me.〜てくれませんかTranscription: te kuremasenkaTranslation: Can you [verb] for me?te-formgiving verbここに名前を書いてくれませんか。Transcription: Koko ni namae o kaite kuremasen ka.Translation: Can you write your name here?
The beneficiary of a favor: When to use に [ni]?
As we stated above, the beneficiary of the favor (the person it’s done for) will usually be marked by the particle に transcribed ni.
However, there are some cases where a different particle will be used instead:
When the beneficiary is also an object of the verb, you’ll use whatever particle the verb usually uses to mark its object.
beneficiary & object(私は) 友達を病院に連れていってあげました。Transcription: (Watashi wa) tomodachi o byōin ni tsurete itte agemashita.Translation: I took my friend to the hospital (for him).When you use the verb 連れて来る transcribed tsurete kurumeaning to bring, the object brought is always marked by を transcribed o.(私は) 弟と遊んであげました。Transcription: (Watashi wa) otōto to asonde agemashita.Translation: I played with my younger brother (for him).When you use the verb 遊ぶ transcribed asobumeaning to play, the person you’re playing with will always be marked by と transcribed to.When the object of the verb belongs to the beneficiary, you shouldn’t even mention the recipient. It can usually be understood from context.
possessor & beneficiaryobject(私は) 友達の かばんを持ってあげました。Transcription: (Watashi wa) tomodachi no kaban o motte agemashita.Translation: I carried my friend’s bag (for her).There is no noun marked by に transcribed ni because it would be repetitive to say “I carried my friend’s bag for my friend.” The context makes the beneficiary clear!When the beneficiary is not required by the verb, you can use the phrases のために transcribed no tamenimeaning for the sake of or に代わって transcribed ni kawattemeaning on behalf of. If the receiver is not required by the main verb, or is not the owner of the object, you can add のために or にかわって depending on the context.
(私は) 山田さんのために働いてあげました。Transcription: (Watashi wa) yamada san no tameni hataraite agemashita.Translation: I worked for Ms. Yamada.
Receiving a favor: 〜てもらう [te morau]
The ending 〜てもらう transcribed te morau, which is the te-form of a verb before the verb もらう transcribed moraumeaning to receive, is used to say that someone has received a favor, or had something done for them. This means that here the recipient is the subject of the sentence.
Recipient + は / が
Doer + に / から
te-form verb
Just like the English construction “have someone do something,” the favor is often, though not always, requested. So in the example above, the speaker may have asked for the cookies. Using 〜てもらう transcribed te morau is a good way to acknowledge and show gratitude for a favor someone has done.
This structure is used in circumstances where the speaker would either be grateful for or uninvolved in the favor. This covers the following situations:
| Recipient | Doer | Example |
|---|---|---|
Speaker | Out-group | recipientdoer ( 私は、) 駅員になくした財布を探してもらいました。 Transcription: (Watashi wa,) eki’in ni nakushita saifu o sagashite moraimashita. Translation: I had the station staff find my lost wallet (for me). |
Speaker | In-group | recipientdoer ( 私は、) 姉にかばんを選んでもらいました。 Transcription: (Watashi wa,) ane ni kaban o erande moraimashita. Translation: I had my older sister choose a bag (for me). |
In-group | Out-group | recipientdoer ( 娘は、) 近所の人にお菓子を買ってもらいました。 Transcription: (Musume wa,) kinjo no hito ni okashi o katte moraimashita. Translation: My daughter had the neighbor buy snacks (for her). |
In-group | In-group | recipientdoer 父は母においしい料理を作ってもらいました。 Transcription: Chichi wa haha ni oishii ryōri o tsukutte moraimashita. Translation: My dad had my mom make delicious dishes (for him). |
Out-group | Out-group | recipientdoer スミスさんは、ブラウンさんに宿題を手伝ってもらいました。 Transcription: Sumisu san wa, Buraun san ni shukudai o tetsudatte moraimashita. Translation: Mr. Smith got Mr. Brown to help him with his homework. |
Here are some common fixed expressions that use 〜てもらう transcribed te morau.
| Expression | Example |
|---|---|
〜てもらってすみません Transcription: te moratte sumimasen Translation: I’m sorry for asking you to [verb] for me | te-formreceiving verb 今日は遠くから来てもらって、すみません。 Transcription: Kyō wa tōku kara kite moratte sumimasen. Translation: I’m sorry for having you come so far today. |
〜てもらえませんか Transcription: te moraemasen ka Translation: Can I have you [verb]? | te-formreceiving verb 明日までにメールを 送ってもらえませんか。 Transcription: Ashita made ni mēru o okutte moraemasen ka. Translation: Can I have you send me an email by tomorrow? |
The “doer” of the favor: に [ni] or から [kara]?
When you’re using 〜てもらう transcribed te morau to describe receiving a favor, the person who did the favor is usually marked by に transcribed ni. However, there are a couple of cases where から transcribed kara will be used instead:
Verbs of transfer → When the favor being done involves transferring an object, knowledge, or words.
このレシピは、母から教えてもらいました。Transcription: Kono reshipi wa, haha kara oshiete moraimashita.Translation: I got my mom to teach me this recipe.Here are a few examples of other verbs of transfer you’re likely to hear used with this ending:
- 送るTranscription: okuruTranslation: to send
- 届けるTranscription: todokeruTranslation: to deliver
- 教えるTranscription: oshieruTranslation: to teach
- ほめるTranscription: homeruTranslation: to praise
- 話しかけるTranscription: hanashikakeruTranslation: to talk to somebody
“Doer” is a place or organization → when an organization like a company, a school, store, etc. does someone a favor.
京都の実家からお菓子を送ってもらいました。Transcription: Kyōto no jikka kara okashi o okutte moraimashita.Translation: I had this snack delivered from my parents’ home in Kyoto.
How to use honorific language when doing or receiving favors?
The three most common honorific forms to use when giving or receiving favors are listed below. All three are formed by combining the te-form of a verb, with an honorific “giving” or “receiving” verb. Here’s how to use each one:
〜て差し上げる transcribed te shashiageru:
This is formed using the humble form of the verb あげる transcribed ageru, so it is most often used if you’re doing a favor for someone in a higher or more respected social position, like your boss or a customer at your store:
どんな靴でも直して差し上げます。Transcription: Don’na kutsu demo naoshite sashiagemasu.Translation: We will fix any shoes (for you).〜てくださる transcribed te kudasaru:
This is formed using the respectful form of the verb くれる transcribed kureru. It is most often used when someone higher-up has done a favor for you or your group.
社長がおみやげを買ってきてくださいました。Transcription: Shachō ga omiyage o katte kite kudasaimashita.Translation: The company’s CEO bought us souvenirs.〜ていただく transcribed te itadaku:
This is formed using the humble form of the verb もらう transcribed morau. It’s most often used to show that you’re humbly receiving a service or favor from someone in a higher position.
先生に推薦状を書いていただきました。Transcription: Sensei ni suisenjō o kaite itadakimashita.Translation: I had my teacher write a recommendation letter (for me).
To sum up
In this post we’ve gone over how you can use the endings 〜てあげる transcribed te ageru, 〜てくれる transcribed te kureru, and 〜てもらう transcribed te morau to discuss giving and receiving favors in Japanese. Here are the most important points to take away.
Use 〜てあげる transcribed te ageru and 〜てくれる transcribed te kureru to discuss doing a favor:
Doing a favor Speaker N/A
〜てあげる〜てあげるIn-group 〜てくれる〜てあげる〜てあげるOut-group 〜てくれる〜てくれる〜てあげるUse 〜てもらう transcribed te morau to discuss receiving a favor:
Receiving a favor Speaker N/A
N/A
N/A
In-group 〜てもらう〜てもらうN/A
Out-group 〜てもらう〜てもらう〜てもらう
Ready to practice? Check out this exercise to practice discussing favors in Japanese. Thank you very much for reading, and happy learning!
:quality(80))
:quality(75))
:quality(75))
:quality(75))
:quality(75))
:quality(75))
:quality(75))
:quality(75))
:quality(75))