to give (to me or my group)

くれる is used when someone gives something to the speaker or the speaker's in-group. The giver is the subject and the receiver takes に, though 私に is often omitted. The honorific equivalent is くださる.

Examples

• 兄あにが私わたしに時計とけいをくれました。

  Ani ga watashi ni tokei o kuremashita.

  My older brother gave me a watch.

• 田中たなかさんがお土産みやげをくれました。

  Tanaka-san ga omiyage o kuremashita.

  Tanaka-san gave me a souvenir.

Vocabulary in these examples

• 兄 older brother (one's own)
• 私 I; me
• 時計 clock; watch
• くれる to give (to me)

Related patterns · Giving and receiving

• あげる to give (outward, from me or my group)
• もらう to receive
• 〜てあげる to do something for someone else
• 〜てくれる someone does something for me
• 〜てもらう to have someone do something for you