JLPT N4 Grammar
· Elementary
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· Elementary
to do something for someone (superior)
Category: Giving & Receiving
The grammar pattern ~てさしあげる is a polite and humble way to express that you are performing a favor for someone of higher social standing. It is often used in situations where you are doing something for a superior, such as a teacher, boss, or customer. This pattern is a combination of the humble verb form ~して and the polite suffix ~さしあげる. The nuance of this pattern is to show respect and gratitude towards the person receiving the favor, while also acknowledging that you are doing something for them.
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Masu form of the verb | Verb + して + さしあげる | お金を払ってさしあげる (to pay the money) |
| Masu form of the verb | Verb + して + さしあげる (with a polite suffix) | 先生のお荷物をお持ちしてさしあげる (to take the teacher's luggage) |
| Masu form of the verb | Verb + して + さしあげる (with a polite suffix and a question) | お客様に新しいパンフレットを送ってさしあげますか (to send a new pamphlet to the customer) |
先生のお荷物をお持ちしてさしあげます
sensei no o-motsu o o-mochi shite sashiagemasu
I will take the teacher's luggage
先生 (teacher), お荷物 (luggage), お持ちして (to take), さしあげます (to give)
社長を駅まで車で送ってさしあげます
shacho o eki made kuruma de tsuketotte sashiagemasu
I will send the president to the station by car
社長 (president), 駅まで (to the station), 車で (by car), 送って (to send), さしあげます (to give)
お客様に新しいパンフレットを送ってさしあげますか
okyaku-sama ni atarashii panfuretto o okutte sashiagemasu ka
Will you send a new pamphlet to the customer?
お客様 (customer), 新しい (new), パンフレット (pamphlet), 送って (to send), さしあげますか (to give)
The grammar pattern ~てさしあげる is used in formal situations, such as business or with someone of higher social standing. It is a polite way to express that you are doing something for someone else. This pattern is often used in combination with other polite expressions, such as ください (please) or どういたしまして (you're welcome).
~てさしあげる is a polite and humble expression, so it's not suitable for use with someone of equal or lower social standing. Instead, use ~てあげる or ~てくださる, which are more casual and polite expressions.
~てさしあげる implies that you are doing something for someone else, so it's not suitable when the other person didn't ask for help. Instead, use a different expression, such as どういたしまして, which acknowledges their gratitude.
~てさしあげる is a formal and polite expression, so it's not suitable for use in informal situations. Instead, use a more casual expression, such as ~てあげる, which is more suitable for everyday conversations.
When using ~てさしあげる in the JLPT exam, make sure to use it in a formal and polite context. Pay attention to the social standing of the person receiving the favor and use the correct expression accordingly. Also, be aware of the nuances of the pattern and use it in combination with other polite expressions to convey the correct meaning.
先生のお荷物、お持ちして______ましょうか。
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