Structure Legend
Structure
Giver(*)は(1) + Recipient(*)に + Object(*)をくれる
Recipient(*)に + Giver(*)は(1) + Object(*)をくれる
Giver(*)は(1) + Object(*)を + Recipient(*)にくれる
(*) Giver, Recipent and Object are Nouns
(1) が
Details
Part of Speech
Verb
Word Type
Independent Word
Register
Standard
品詞
動詞
単語の種類
自立語
使用域
一般
Rare Kanji
呉れる
About くれる
くれる is generally taught as part of a set of 3 verbs that are regularly used for giving and receiving in Japanese. These verbs are くれる, あげる, and もらう. くれる means 'to give' (to you, or someone that is part of your 'in' group).
The giver/recipient are often omitted from sentences with くれる, as one/both are usually obvious from context, or the sentence may be focussing on the object.
The giver will always be someone that is more distant than the people that are in the 'group'.
- おばあちゃんはいつもお菓子をくれる。My grandmother always gives me candy.
- 毎年、彼女が手紙をくれる。Every year, my girlfriend gives me a letter.
- 母は毎日私にクッキーをくれる。My mother gives me cookies everyday.
The giver/recipient are often omitted from sentences with くれる, as one/both are usually obvious from context, or the sentence may be focussing on the object.
- 嫁がプレゼントをくれた。My wife gave me a present.
- 私にプレゼントをくれた。A present was given to me.
Fun Fact
What someone considers their 'in' group will be different for each person, but usually consists of members of your family, clubs that you are in, or something similar that has a 'group' atmosphere (that you are a part of).The giver will always be someone that is more distant than the people that are in the 'group'.
- 近所の人が旅行から帰って来て、父にお土産をくれた。When the neighbors return home from traveling, they give my father souvenirs.
- 先生がクラブ仲間のとしこちゃんに花をくれた。The teacher gave flowers to my club member, Toshiko-chan.
Caution
When we want to say that we (or someone else) gave something to someone that is not in our 'in' group, we will need to use あげる instead.Synonyms
Examples
母は僕にかっこいいペンをくれた。
My mom gave me a cool pen.
兄は(私に)便利な箱をくれた。
My brother gave me a convenient box.
おじいちゃんは(私に)古い自転車をくれた。
My grandpa gave me an old bicycle.
彼が(私に)かわいい靴をくれて、嬉しいです。
He gave me some cute shoes, so I am happy.
Since くれる is followed immediately by うれしい, the conjunction form くれて will be required.
友達は毎週土曜日に私の母にクッキーをくれる。
My friend gives my mom cookies every Saturday.
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When to use くれる
Tae Kim
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Genki II 2nd Edition
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みんなの日本語 I
Page 152 [CH 24]
[DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
Page 213
Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
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くれる – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (13 in total)
jrmr50
About 2 years ago
if we use て here, what puts the sentence into the past tense? Why isn’t it 'he gives some cute shoes to me, so I am happy`
I had opted for くれた
FredKore
About 2 years ago
The comma indicates that it has to be て-form to join with something that comes after. If you put くれた then that would be the end of the sentence.
It’s translated as past tense because the situation is that ‘I am currently happy about something that happened’.The pattern is like these grammar points:
Verb[て] + B | Japanese Grammar SRS
てくれてありがとう | Japanese Grammar SRS
てすみません | Japanese Grammar SRSMikkaT
About 6 months ago
Hi, I saw these diagrams which helped understanding the concept better.
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