Meaning
These patterns express having someone perform an action with two perspectives: ていただく (from the recipient's viewpoint, using humble language) and てくださる (from the giver's viewpoint, using respectful language). ていただく is used when politely requesting someone of higher status to do something, while てくださる is used when acknowledging that someone of higher status has done something for you. Both convey gratitude and politeness.
Formation
| Part of speech | Formation |
|---|---|
| 接受者视角（谦让语） | Aは Bに 動詞（て形）いただきます |
| 给予者视角（尊敬语） | Bは Aに 動詞（て形）くださいます |
Examples
-
社長に 会議に 出席して いただきました。
The president attended the meeting for us. -
お客様に お名前を 書いて いただきます。
We have the customers write down their names. -
先輩は ランチを 奢って くださいました。
My senior colleague treated me to lunch. -
本日は 仕事を 手伝ってくださって、本当に ありがとうございます。
Thank you very much for helping me with work today.
Summary
- Use ていただく when requesting or asking a superior to do something (humble perspective)
- Use てくださる when a superior does something for you (respectful perspective)
- Both patterns express politeness and gratitude; the particle に marks the person doing the action