V て-form + くださいます／いただきます／さしあげます (V-te kudasaimasu / itadakimasu / sashiagemasu) — Giving and receiving actions — kindly did it for me
Not a thing but a favour — showing who did something for whom.
Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)
Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)
When to use it
At work the most common way to say thank you is 「〜て いただき、ありがとうございます」.
Meaning
- Put those same three verbs after a て form and they show a favour done as an action.
- 教えて くださいました = "the teacher kindly taught me" — here the higher person is the subject (先生が).
- 教えて いただきました = the same event, but with me as the subject (私は 先生に).
How to attach
The particles follow the same rule as before: with くださいます the giver takes が, with いただきます the giver takes に.
Versus what you know
Which to pick? If the favour came from above toward me, くださいます／いただきます; if it went from me upward, さしあげます.
Watch out
手伝って さしあげました = I humbly helped a higher person — and, following the さしあげます warning, do not say this to your boss.
Examples (उदाहरणहरू)
先生が 日本語を 教えて くださいました。
せんせいが にほんごを おしえて くださいました。
My teacher kindly taught me Japanese.
部長に 書類を 見て いただきました。
ぶちょうに しょるいを みて いただきました。
I had the department manager look over the documents for me.
田中さんは 部長を 駅まで 送って さしあげました。
たなかさんは ぶちょうを えきまで おくって さしあげました。
Tanaka took the department manager to the station as a favor.
Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)
Fill the blank: 「先生が 日本語を 教えて ___」
💡 Hint: 先生が — the higher person is the subject.
Because the subject is the higher person, it takes くださいました.
Same event with me as the subject: 「私は 先生に 日本語を 教えて ___」
💡 Hint: 私は… に — I am the one receiving.
With me as the subject it becomes いただきました. Same event, different viewpoint.
Which is the most common way to say thank you at work?
💡 Hint: I am the one who received the favour.
「〜て いただき、ありがとうございます」is heard every day in an office.
Your score: /3