A respectful expression indicating that someone of higher status performs an action as a favor for the speaker or someone in the speaker's in-group. It is the respectful equivalent of '～てくれる'.
Verb [て-form] + くださるPrimary
Verb [て-form] + くださいます
This is a polite way to say someone important does something for you. It shows respect to them.
部長がこのプロジェクトを手伝ってくださったおかげで、無事に完了しました。
Thanks to the department manager helping me with this project, we were able to complete it successfully.
先生が推薦状を書いてくださらなければ、この大学には合格できなかったでしょう。
If my teacher hadn't written a letter of recommendation for me, I probably wouldn't have been accepted to this university.
社長がわざわざ空港まで迎えに来てくださるとのことです。
I've heard that the company president will be kind enough to come all the way to the airport to pick me up.
先日、田中様が紹介してくださった弁護士に連絡しました。
The other day, I contacted the lawyer that Mr. Tanaka was kind enough to introduce me to.
山田教授がこの本を貸してくださったんだ。すごく参考になるよ。
Professor Yamada lent me this book. It's really helpful.
This word shows respect. It means someone important did something nice for you. It feels like a big thank you.
This is different from 'te itadaku'. 'Te kudasaru' shows the giver did something for you. 'Te itadaku' shows you received something from the giver. Both are polite. But 'te itadaku' sounds more humble. It is often used in business. 'Te kureru' is a casual way to say this.
Watch out: Do not use "～てくださる" too much. Use "～ていただく" instead when you want to be humble. For example, when your boss helps you, say "手伝っていただき、ありがとうございます." This means "Thank you for helping me." It sounds more polite than "手伝ってくださり、ありがとうございます."
Contrasts with(2)
More formal alternatives(1)
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