Use 差し上げる when describing a gift or offer to someone you wish to treat respectfully.

The idea

差し上げる is the humble counterpart of あげる. The giver is the subject, the recipient takes に and the thing takes を. It is an ichidan verb: remove る before adding ます or て.

Patterns to compare
Dictionary formPolite non-pastPolite negativePolite pastて form
差し上げる差し上げます差し上げません差し上げました差し上げて

Examples

  • 私わたしは先生せんせいに花はなを差さし上あげました。I gave flowers to my teacher.
  • 母はははお客様きゃくさまにお茶ちゃを差さし上あげます。My mother offers tea to the guest.
  • 明日あした、部長ぶちょうに資料しりょうを差さし上あげます。Tomorrow I will give the department manager the documents.
  • その本ほんはまだ差さし上あげていません。I have not given them that book yet.
  • 私わたしは先生せんせいに手紙てがみを差さし上あげたいです。I would like to give my teacher a letter.
  • 祖母そぼに写真しゃしんを差さし上あげて、喜よろこんでいただきました。I gave my grandmother a photo, and she was pleased.

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Watch out

Do not use it for a superior giving something to you: くださる describes that direction. 〜て差し上げる can imply the recipient needed your help, so an offer such as お手伝いしましょうか may be more tactful.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the polite non-past form. ＿。（差し上げる→ます）

    Show answer or example answer

    差し上げます

    差し上げます is the polite non-past: remove る and add ます.

  2. Write the て form. ＿。（差し上げる→て）

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    差し上げて

    差し上げて is the て form: remove る and add て.

  3. Choose the form for giving flowers to the teacher. 私わたしは先生せんせいに花はなを＿。（差し上げました／いただきました）

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    差し上げました

    差し上げました fits because the speaker gives flowers to the teacher; いただきました would express receiving.

Use it today

Describe a gift to a teacher, then change the verb to the polite past and check に and を.