JLPT N4 grammar
くれる — Meaning & Examples
"Someone gives TO me" — always points at the speaker or in-group. 友達がくれた (tomodachi ga kureta). Never わたしが…くれる. Honorific: くださる (kudasaru).
くれる — Someone Gives TO Me
くれる = to give, but ALWAYS toward the speaker (me or my in-group). The receiver is me/mine.
Pattern: [giver]は [わたし]に [thing]を くれる
友達がわたしにプレゼントをくれた。(tomodachi ga watashi ni purezento o kureta.)
= My friend gave me a present.
祖母がお金をくれました。(sobo ga okane o kuremashita.)
= My grandmother gave me money.
The golden rule: くれる always points at you. You can NEVER say わたしが…くれる (I-give-to-me makes no sense).
Why two "give" verbs? Japanese marks whether the gift benefits YOU. くれる carries a warm sense of "someone did this kindness for me."
Honorific: くださる (a superior gives to me)
先生が本をくださいました。(sensei ga hon o kudasaimashita.) = The teacher gave me a book.
Practice questions
Try these 3 questions on くれる. Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. "My friend gave ME a present" uses which verb?
- あげる (ageru)
- くれる (kureru)
- もらう (morau)
- やる (yaru)
Show answer
Answer: くれる (kureru)
くれる = someone gives TO me. 友達がわたしにプレゼントをくれた. It always points toward the speaker.
2. "I gave my friend a present" uses?
- くれる (kureru)
- あげる (ageru)
- もらう (morau)
- くださる (kudasaru)
Show answer
Answer: あげる (ageru)
あげる = I give (away from me). わたしは友達にプレゼントをあげた.
3. Why can you never say わたしが…くれる?
- くれる always points at the speaker, so "I give to me" is impossible
- くれる is too formal
- くれる is only for objects
- くれる needs を
Show answer
Answer: くれる always points at the speaker, so "I give to me" is impossible
くれる means someone gives TO me/my side. The giver can't be わたし — use あげる when you are the giver.
Practise くれる in the free app
This point is part of the “Giving & Receiving — あげる・くれる・もらう” lesson in A Star Japanese. Study it with examples, a quiz, flashcards and timed JLPT N4 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
Free on iPhone and Android · No ads
Related N4 grammar points
From the same lesson: Giving & Receiving — あげる・くれる・もらう
Frequently asked questions
What does くれる mean?
"Someone gives TO me" — always points at the speaker or in-group. 友達がくれた (tomodachi ga kureta). Never わたしが…くれる. Honorific: くださる (kudasaru).
Is くれる on the JLPT N4 test?
くれる is taught in the JLPT N4 grammar course in A Star Japanese (lesson “Giving & Receiving — あげる・くれる・もらう”), so it is a pattern learners at this level are expected to recognise. The JLPT does not publish an official grammar list, so treat this as a study guide rather than an official requirement.
How can I practise くれる?
Open the “Giving & Receiving — あげる・くれる・もらう” lesson in the free A Star Japanese app for iPhone and Android. It has examples, a quiz after every lesson, flashcards with spaced repetition and timed JLPT N4 mock exams, with no ads.