～てくれる
To do something for someone (usually you)
Structure
Verb［ないで］+ くれる
Explanation
The Japanese verb くれる is quite close in meaning to 与える (to give/to grant). The main distinction is that くれる (usually written in hiragana) indicates that an action is given to the speaker, or to someone close to the speaker (their in-group).
This makes てくれる the counterpart to てあげる, which is used when someone (often the speaker) does something for another person. You can think of てくれる as expressing that you've received the benefit of an action. As a question, it's often translated as 'Could you do (A) for me?', while as a statement it means 'Someone did (A) for me'.
- 母はよくお弁当を作ってくれる。Mom often makes a bento lunch for me.
- 先生が分からない単語を教えてくれる。My teacher explains to me the words I don't understand.
- ねえ、この荷物を持ってくれる？Hey, could you hold this luggage for me?
To make a casual request, てくれる can be abbreviated to just てくれ. This form is very informal and should only be used with close friends or family, never with superiors or people you're not familiar with. In English, it carries a nuance similar to 'can ya do (A)?' or 'do (A) for me, will ya?'.
- おい、ちょっと待ってくれ！Hey, wait up for a second (for me)!
Fun Fact
When requesting a favor, てくれる is quite casual. To be more polite, you can use てもらう. For situations requiring humble speech, the most polite form is ていただく, which is the humble equivalent of てもらう.
- 彼が駅まで車で送ってくれる。He's going to drive me to the station. (He is doing this favor for me)
- 彼に駅まで車で送ってもらう。I'm going to have him drive me to the station. (I am receiving the favor of being driven)
- 部長に駅まで車で送って頂く。I will have my manager drive me to the station. (I am humbly receiving the favor of being driven)
Examples
すみません、写真を撮ってくれますか。
Excuse me, could you take a picture for us?
山田さんが宿題を手伝ってくれた。
Yamada-san helped me with my homework.
先生、もう一度説明してくれませんか。
Teacher, would you mind explaining it one more time? (for me)
母が毎朝起こしてくれる。
My mother wakes me up every morning. (For me)
暑いから、窓を開けてくれる？
It's hot, so could you open the window? (for me)
田中先輩がお弁当を作ってくれました。
My senior, Tanaka, made a bento for me.
この書類をチェックしてくれますか。
Would you check this document for me?
友達が面白い本を貸してくれた。
My friend lent me an interesting book.
ちょっと待ってくれる？
Can you wait a minute? (for me)
親切な人が財布を拾ってくれた。
A kind person picked up my wallet for me.
駅まで送ってくれませんか。
Won't you give me a ride to the station?
彼が私の悩みを聞いてくれた。
He did me the favor of listening to my troubles.