ていただく details
write + (and…) + humbly receive the favor of doing
kaite itadaku
humbly receive the favor of (someone) doing; have (someone) do
meaning: have someone write
駅前の時計屋で、時計を直していただく。
ekimae no tokeiya de, tokei o naoshite itadaku.
I have someone fix my watch at the shop by the station. neutral
窓口で書類の書き方を教えていただく。
madoguchi de shorui no kakikata o oshiete itadaku.
I have someone teach me how to fill out the forms at the counter. neutral
- past
- polite
- potential
Examples
humbly receive the favor of (someone) doing — the receiver is the subject, deference points at the giver
駅前の時計屋で、時計を直していただいた。
ekimae no tokeiya de, tokei o naoshiteitadaita.
I had someone fix my watch at the shop by the station. neutral
窓口で書類の書き方を教えていただいた。
madoguchi de shorui no kakikata o oshieteitadaita.
I had someone teach me how to fill out the forms at the counter. neutral
先輩に引っ越しを手伝っていただいた。
senpai ni hikkoshi o tetsudatte itadaita.
I had a senior help me move. neutral
先日は貴重な資料をご送付いただき、誠にありがとうございました。
senjitsu wa kichou na shiryou o go soufu itadaki, makoto ni arigatou gozaimashita.
Thank you very much for kindly sending the valuable materials the other day. formal
Formation
{V-te}いただくattaches to て-formご+動作[どうさ]名詞[めいし]+いただく(ご送付[そうふ]いただく)attaches to noun phrase (schematic)
Notes
てform いただく in written business register — both mean the same thing.
Related patterns
Similar
Plain vs humble register over the same favor — てもらう is the neutral, everyday default; ていただく elevates the GIVER with humble language, standard toward teachers, superiors, and customers, and reads oddly aimed downward, at your own child or a junior.
ていただく reports or narrates that a favor was (or will be) humbly received — a plain declarative fact; ていただけませんか turns the same verb into a deferential yes/no REQUEST asking for the favor, never a statement — reach for the plain form to report, the question form to ask.
Lookalikes
Same いただく tail, opposite agent — 手伝[てつだ]っていただく means THEY act and I receive it (they help me), while 手伝[てつだ]わせていただく means I ACT, merely framed as having received permission to (I get to help) — misreading one for the other flips who is actually doing the favor.