Giving (Benefactive Register)
6 related grammar points that express the same core idea - compared below so you can tell which one to reach for.
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- ~が 私に くれます JLPT N5
- ~に あげます JLPT N5
- Noun を あげる JLPT N4
- Nounをくださる JLPT N4
- Noun を くれる JLPT N4
- Noun を さしあげる JLPT N4
あげます / くれます
Someone gives something to you (or to your family, your team, your side).
~が 私に くれます vs ~に あげます: Use くれる. Japanese picks the giving verb by direction, not by politeness: あげる always points away from the speaker, くれる always points towards. 友達に本をあげた is you giving; 友達が本をくれた is them giving to you, and swapping them reverses who did what.
くださる / さしあげる
Someone senior to you gave you something.
Nounをくださる vs Noun を くれる: Use くださる. Direction is still inward, same as くれる, but くださる raises the giver, which is what you want for a teacher, a client or a boss. Plain くれる for a superior is not rude so much as flat, and in a thank-you it reads as careless.
You are giving something to someone senior to you.
Noun を さしあげる vs Noun を あげる: Use さしあげる, the humble outward form, which lowers you rather than raising them. Be sparing with it: said to the person's face it can sound as if you are drawing attention to the favour, so plain あげます is often the safer choice in the moment.