Meaning
Shows that someone does something beneficial for the speaker or the speaker’s group.
Formation
- て form + くれる — 撮ってくれました
- The doer takes が; the receiver is me or my circle
When to use it
- Core use
- Someone does it for me
Examples
20 sentences-
友だちが写真を撮ってくれました
My friend took a picture for me.
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母が朝ご飯を作ってくれました
My mother made breakfast for me.
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先生が難しい言葉をゆっくり説明してくれました
The teacher slowly explained a difficult word for me.
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駅員さんが遅れた電車の時間を教えてくれました
The station staff told me the updated time for the delayed train.
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友だちが忘れた財布を届けてくれました
My friend brought me the wallet I had forgotten.
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雨が降っていたとき知らない人が駅まで傘に入れてくれました
When it was raining, a stranger let me share their umbrella as far as the station.
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姉が駅まで迎えに来てくれました
My older sister came to meet me at the station.
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同僚が資料を印刷してくれました
A coworker printed the materials for me.
12 more examples
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近所の人が道を教えてくれました
A person from the neighborhood showed me the way.
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父が壊れた椅子を直してくれました
My father fixed the broken chair for me.
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友達が重い荷物を持ってくれました
My friend carried the heavy luggage for me.
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友達が日本語の手紙を読んでくれました
My friend read the letter in Japanese for me.
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友達が道を教えてくれました
My friend showed the way for me.
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友達が家族の写真を撮ってくれました
My friend took a family photo for me.
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友達が壊れた椅子を直してくれました
My friend fixed the broken chair for me.
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友達が旅行の予定を調べてくれました
My friend looked up the travel schedule for me.
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友達が部屋の掃除を手伝ってくれました
My friend helped clean the room for me.
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友達が夕食を作ってくれました
My friend made dinner for me.
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友達が新しいアプリを説明してくれました
My friend explained the new app for me.
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友達が必要な本を探してくれました
My friend looked for the book I needed.
Important notes
- The doer acts for the speaker or someone in the speaker's circle.
Common mistakes
- The helper is the subject: 友達が手伝ってくれた, not 私が手伝ってくれた for helping my friend.
Check yourself
Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.
Similar grammar
Hear it in podcasts
The pattern appears in these episodes. They open in the app with the transcript and translation.
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