Create an account and play

Explore first, then save your progress whenever you are ready. No email address is required.

Create an account and play

Explore first, then save your progress whenever you are ready. No email address is required.

1/11

The manager helps me with my work. Look at the arrow: who gives the help, and who benefits from it?

››

Lesson notes · ≈ JLPT N4 · Beginner 3

〜てくださいました~te kudasaimashita

respectful help received

Use 「〜てくださいました」 to respectfully describe help an elder or superior gave you and express gratitude.

How it works

The manager helps me with my work. Look at the arrow: who gives the help, and who benefits from it?
When an elder or superior does something for me, 「てくださいます」 shows respect for the person helping.
「部長が」 identifies the person doing the action. I receive the benefit, and 「私に」 is often left out.
First put the action verb in the て-form, then add 「くださいます」: 手伝う→手伝って.
「てくれます」 also means someone does something for me. 「てくださいます」 shows greater respect for that person.

Compare the subjects: 部長が手伝ってくださいます／私は手伝っていただきます.

The help in the example has already happened, so the past form 「くださいました」 is used, expressing gratitude.

「手伝ってください」 is a request. In the example, 「手伝ってくださいました」 describes help that was given.

部長ぶちょうbuchouがga手伝ってつだっtetsudaてteくださいました。くださいましたkudasaimashita
The manager helped me out.

A
部長さん、ぶちょうさんお忙しいおいそがしいんですか。か
A: Is the manager very busy?
B
はい、はいでも私わたしのプロジェクトぷろじぇくとを手伝ってつだってくださいました。くださいました
B: Yes, but he still helped me with my project.
A
そうですか。か部長ぶちょうが直接ちょくせつ手伝ってつだってくれるなんて、なんてすばらしいですね。ね
A: I see. It's amazing that the manager helped directly.

Level 1 · Recognise
Which sentence is correct?
Level 1 · Recognise
Listen and choose the meaning
Level 2 · Build
Put the words in order
The teacher wrote a letter of recommendation for me.
Level 3 · Use
What goes in the blank?
部長が手伝ってました。
The department head helped me.