Genki Grammar #111: Mastering -te kurete arigatou

Introduction

In Japanese, expressing gratitude is an important part of everyday communication. When you want to thank someone for a specific action, you can use the structure te-form + くれてありがとう (kurete arigatou). This phrase allows you to directly thank someone for what they’ve done. In this blog post, we’ll learn how to use this expression, when to use it, and how to apply it in both casual and polite situations.

What It Means

The structure te-form + くれてありがとう (kurete arigatou) is used to express thanks for someone’s specific action. It translates to “Thank you for doing…” in English. You can use it to show appreciation for things people do for you, whether big or small.

For more formal situations, or when thanking someone with higher social status, you should use te-form + くださってありがとうございました (kudasatte arigatou gozaimashita), which is a more polite way to express gratitude.

When to Use It

Use te-form + くれてありがとう (kurete arigatou) when you are speaking to friends, family, or others with whom you have a close, casual relationship. It is a warm and direct way to thank someone.

Use te-form + くださってありがとうございました (kudasatte arigatou gozaimashita) in more formal settings or when speaking to someone higher up in social status, such as a teacher, a boss, or a client. This is a more polite and respectful way to show your gratitude.

Examples

Here are some examples to help you understand how to use both casual and polite forms of te-form + くれてありがとう(kurete arigatou).

1. 手伝ってくれてありがとう (Tetsudatte kurete arigatou)
   Thank you for helping me.
   • Verb: 手伝う (tetsudau) – “to help.” This is a casual way to thank someone for their assistance.
2. プレゼントを買ってくれてありがとう (Purezento o katte kurete arigatou)
   Thank you for buying the present.
   • Verb: 買う (kau) – “to buy.” This is a casual way of thanking someone for purchasing a gift for you.
3. 推薦状を書いてくださってありがとうございました (Suiseenjoo o kaite kudasatte arigatou gozaimashita)
   Thank you for writing a letter of recommendation for me.
   • Verb: 書く (kaku) – “to write.” This is the polite form, perfect for thanking someone respectfully.
4. いつも親切に教えてくださってありがとうございます (Itsumo shinsetsu ni oshiete kudasatte arigatou gozaimasu)
   Thank you for always kindly teaching me.
   • Verb: 教える (oshieru) – “to teach.” Use this polite form to show ongoing gratitude for someone’s kindness.
5. いい友だちでいてくれてありがとう (Ii tomodachi de ite kurete arigatou)
   Thank you for being a good friend.
   • Verb: いる (iru) – “to be.” Use this structure with いて (ite) to thank someone for “being” a certain way.

Notes

• Casual vs. Polite: Remember, くれてありがとう (kurete arigatou) is casual, and くださってありがとうございました (kudasatte arigatou gozaimashita) is polite. Always choose the right form based on the situation and the person you’re speaking to.
• Present Tense: If you want to thank someone for something that is still ongoing, you can use ありがとうございます(arigatou gozaimasu). For example:

いつも助けてくださってありがとうございます (Itsumo tasukete kudasatte arigatou gozaimasu) Thank you for always helping me.

Don’t use ありがとうございました (arigatou gozaimashita), which is used to thank someone for something that has already been completed.

Conclusion

Using te-form + くれてありがとう (kurete arigatou) is a great way to express gratitude for specific actions. Whether you are thanking a friend or a superior, mastering both the casual and polite forms of this expression will help you communicate your appreciation in a natural and respectful way. 

Thank you for reading this post—読んでくれてありがとう (yonde kurete arigatou)!

Recommended Resources

For a deeper understanding of -te kurete arigatou, I recommend A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar. This book provides a clear explanation of this structure under the entry kureru², covering its meaning and usage when expressing gratitude for actions done by others. If you want to explore this grammar point in more detail and see more examples of how to use it correctly, this book is an excellent resource to enhance your understanding of Japanese expressions of thanks.