てやる
🃏 Flashcard
てやる
te yaru
Tap to reveal usage
to do for; to do a favor (casual)
N4
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N4
Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences
Reading
te yaru
Post ID
50784
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
to do for; to do a favor (casual)
📖 How to use it
Expresses doing something as a favor for someone else, often with a casual or even condescending tone.
Attaches to
Attach to the て-form of a verb. The pattern is: verbて + やる.
てやる means to do something for someone, similar to てあげる but more casual and often used when the speaker is in a higher position or when the recipient is a pet, a child, or a close friend. It can sound rude if used toward someone of higher status, so avoid it in formal situations. In casual speech with friends, it can show willingness to help, but it may also imply 'I'll do this for you (since you can't)'. Use てあげる for polite favors, and てもらう/てくれる for when someone does something for you.
犬に餌をあげてやった。
Inu ni esa o agete yatta.
I fed the dog (as a favor).
宿題を手伝ってやるよ。
Shukudai o tetsudatte yaru yo.
I'll help you with your homework.
弟に本を読んでやった。
Otōto ni hon o yonde yatta.
I read a book to my little brother.
Not てあげる
てあげる is the polite version; てやる is casual and can be condescending. Use てあげる for favors to others in polite contexts, and てやる only with close friends, family, or animals.
Register
Casual and often used in spoken Japanese; avoid in formal or polite contexts.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
てやる
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat てやる three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using てやる. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N4 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern てやる mean?
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To do for; to do a favor (casual)
What JLPT level is てやる?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N4 — Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use てやる in a sentence?
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Attach てやる (te yaru) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is てやる formal or casual Japanese?
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てやる is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember てやる long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.