to do something for someone else

Te-form plus あげる means doing an action as a favor for someone else. Because it openly presents the act as a favor, it can sound condescending to superiors, so avoid using it directly to them. Use てさしあげる only in clearly humble narration.

Examples

• 私わたしは弟おとうとの宿題しゅくだいを手伝てつだってあげました。

  Watashi wa otouto no shukudai o tetsudatte agemashita.

  I helped my little brother with his homework.

• おばあさんに道みちを教おしえてあげました。

  Obaasan ni michi o oshiete agemashita.

  I showed an elderly woman the way.

Vocabulary in these examples

• 私 I; me
• 弟 younger brother
• 宿題 homework
• 手伝う to help, to assist
• 道 road; way
• 教える to teach; to tell

Related patterns · Giving and receiving

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