呉れる・くれる (receiving a thing)

• Reading: くれる
• Romaji: kureru
• Formation: Giver が/は + (Recipient に +) Object を + くれる
• Kanji breakdown: 呉れる — 呉 means to give or bestow

Meaning

Indicates that someone gives something to the speaker or to someone in the speaker's in-group. The speaker is the recipient or empathises with the recipient.

くれる is used when someone else gives something to the speaker or to a person the speaker identifies with, such as a family member. It takes the recipient's perspective, expressing gratitude or appreciation for the giving. The giver is marked with が or は, and the recipient is marked with に. The polite equivalent is くださる, used when the giver is of higher social status. くれる cannot be used when the speaker is the giver — あげる is used instead.

Examples

1. 友達が私にお土産をくれた。 My friend gave me a souvenir.
2. 祖母がきれいなマフラーをくれた。 My grandmother gave me a beautiful scarf.
3. 先輩がおすすめの本をくれました。 My senior gave me a recommended book.

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 母が新しいかばんをくれた。
• 彼がバレンタインにチョコレートをくれた。
• 田中さんが息子に絵本をくれました。

Don't Say

• 私が友達にプレゼントをくれた。(The speaker cannot be the giver with くれる — use あげた instead) → 私が友達にプレゼントをあげた。
• 先生が私にアドバイスをくれた。(With a superior as the giver, くださった is more appropriate) → 先生が私にアドバイスをくださった。

Origin & History

くれる originally meant to give from a position directed toward the speaker, reflecting the Japanese cultural emphasis on distinguishing in-group and out-group perspectives.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal