N4 Giving and Receiving Actions

~てくれる: meaning, usage and examples

~てくれる means: something is done by someone for me or my family.

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. 友達ともだちが駅えきまで送おくってくれました。

   My friend took me to the station.

2. 先生せんせいが詳くわしく説明せつめいしてくれました。

   The teacher explained it in detail for me.

3. 田中たなかさんが傘かさを貸かしてくれました。

   Mr. Tanaka lent me an umbrella.

4. 兄あにが自転車じてんしゃを直なおしてくれました。

   My older brother fixed my bicycle for me.

When to use it

Use てくれる when someone else does something that benefits you or your group (family, close friends, your company). The doer is the subject, marked with が or は, and the receiver, usually 私わたし, is often left out. 田中たなかさんが傘かさを貸かしてくれました means "Mr. Tanaka lent me an umbrella," and it carries a feeling of thanks.

Nuance

てくれる adds gratitude: 兄あにが自転車じてんしゃを直なおした is a plain fact, 兄あにが自転車じてんしゃを直なおしてくれた shows you are thankful. The receiver must be the speaker or someone on the speaker's side; you cannot use it for a favor you did for others. For a superior doing you a favor, use てくださる.

Compare

てくれる and てもらう can describe the same event from different angles. てくれる makes the doer the subject: 先生せんせいが説明せつめいしてくれた. てもらう makes the receiver the subject, with the doer marked by に: 先生せんせいに説明せつめいしてもらった. てあげる goes the other way, from my side to someone else.

Tip: Look at the particle on the doer: が goes with てくれる, に goes with てもらう. Mixing them up (先生せんせいに説明せつめいしてくれた) is a very common mistake.