what is the difference between oshieta and oshiete kureta?


oshieta is the plain past tense of oshieru and oshiete kureta is usually
translated as the past tense of oshieru too. What is the difference between
them?




In many contexts, the two translate similarly, but it might help to look at
longer sentences to see why they are not identical.

> [私]{わたし}に[数学]{すうがく}を[教]{おし}えた

= [you - implied subject] taught me math.

> [私]{わたし}に[数学]{すうがく}を[教]{おし}えてくれた.

= [you - implied subject] _deigned_ to teach me math.

くれる means something like "lowered yourself" / "gifted me by" ...

In other words, it emphasizes that the person who taught you math did you a
kindness by teaching you math.

* * *

The converse emphasis which you didn't ask about (but @Shoko kindly mentions)
is

> [数学]{すうがく}を[教]{おし}えてもらった

this emphasizes that I _received_ math instruction from you.

you can also upgrade the phrases with [尊敬語]{そんけいご} to

> [数学]{すうがく}を[教]{おし}えていただいた

Here, you are further emphasizing how great of a thing you've received.

* * *

You can also degrade yourself with [謙譲語]{けんじょうご} and change くれる into くださる.
This emphasizes how much you think someone was doing something beneath their
station by helping you.




In many contexts, the two translate similarly, but it might help to look at
longer sentences to see why they are not identical.

> [私]{わたし}に[数学]{すうがく}を[教]{おし}えた

= [you - implied subject] taught me math.

> [私]{わたし}に[数学]{すうがく}を[教]{おし}えてくれた.

= [you - implied subject] _deigned_ to teach me math.

くれる means something like "lowered yourself" / "gifted me by" ...

In other words, it emphasizes that the person who taught you math did you a
kindness by teaching you math.

* * *

The converse emphasis which you didn't ask about (but @Shoko kindly mentions)
is

> [数学]{すうがく}を[教]{おし}えてもらった

this emphasizes that I _received_ math instruction from you.

you can also upgrade the phrases with [尊敬語]{そんけいご} to

> [数学]{すうがく}を[教]{おし}えていただいた

Here, you are further emphasizing how great of a thing you've received.

* * *

You can also degrade yourself with [謙譲語]{けんじょうご} and change くれる into くださる.
This emphasizes how much you think someone was doing something beneath their
station by helping you.

