JapaneseJLPT
JLPT N4 grammar · Chapter 16

～てくれてありがとう

Thank someone for what they did

You'll be able to name the helpful action you are grateful for when thanking someone.

Illustration of the scene described by Thank you for helping me.
Read it first

手伝てつだってくれてありがとう。

tetsudatte kurete arigatou.

What do you think this sentence means?

Thank you for helping me.

Why it means that

Thank someone for a specific favor

～てくれてありがとう names the helpful action you are thankful for. くれて frames it as a benefit received from the person you address.

Example

今日きょうは来きてくれてありがとう。

kyou wa kite kurete arigatou.

Thank you for coming today.

How it is built

Form and use ～てくれてありがとう

Use ありがとうございます for greater politeness. For a respected helper, ～てくださってありがとうございます is more appropriate. Match the action to what the listener actually did.

Verb て-form+くれてありがとう
Examples

今日きょうは来きてくれてありがとう。

kyou wa kite kurete arigatou.

Thank you for coming today.

写真しゃしんを送おくってくれてありがとうございます。

shashin o okutte kurete arigatou gozaimasu.

Thank you for sending me the photograph.

Examples

私わたしの誕生日たんじょうびを覚おぼえていてくれてありがとう。

watashi no tanjoubi o oboete ite kurete arigatou.

Thanks for remembering my birthday.

遠とおいところまで来きてくれてありがとう。

tooi tokoro made kite kurete arigatou.

Thanks for coming all this way.

引ひっ越こしを手伝てつだってくれてありがとう。本当ほんとうに助たすかったよ。

hikkoshi o tetsudatte kurete arigatou. hontou ni tasukatta yo.

Thanks for helping me move. It really helped.

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