もし裏切ったら、俺がてめぇの墓を掘ってあげる。
If you betray us, I’ll dig your grave for you.
Now, てあげる is all about doing something for someone else, right? It’s like you’re the big boss, and you’re blessing somebody with your skills or your time. The main thing to remember is the nuance. You’re the one on top, the one with the power, and you’re extending a helping hand to someone else. It’s like the difference between handing a homie a dollar and sayin’ “Here, fam, I got you,” versus when you’re the one droppin’ a whole stack of cash on a crew member to pay off his debts. That’s that てあげる energy right there. It shows you’re the one with the resources, the one callin’ the shots.
Here’s a heads up, though. I used this with my girl when I started learning Japanese, and she got all fired up ’cause she said it sounded patronizing. And she ain’t wrong.
See, this ain’t a grammar point you just bust out anywhere. てあげる can sound real condescending, like you’re doin’ a favor for somebody who’s below you, especially if you’re dealin’ with someone who’s got more status than you. So, unless you’re tryna get into a fight, you gotta be careful who you use this with.
Just like you gotta know the rules of the streets, you gotta know how to conjugate this joint. It’s real simple, just take the て-form of a verb and slap あげる on the end.
| Verb Type | Rule | Example | English Translation |
| う-verbs (u-verbs) | Change the last syllable to its い equivalent and add て. | 買う → 買いてあげる | To buy for someone |
| る-verbs (ru-verbs) | Drop the final る and add て. | 見る → 見てあげる | To look at for someone |
| Irregular | They got their own rules, just memorize ’em. | する → してあげる | To do for someone |
The conjugation for てあげる is slick because it connects right to the verb’s て-form, which you should already know. If you don’t, you need to go back to the basics, my G. For regular verbs, it’s just a matter of changing the end of the verb to the て-form and then addin’ あげる. Easy peasy. The irregulars are the only ones you gotta keep an eye on, but there are only two, so it ain’t no big deal.
This section is all about the words you’ll need to drop to sound like you’re from the streets.
借金 (しゃっきん)
English: Debt; loan.
Yo, this ain’t nothin’ but a favor with a fee. You know, you need that paper, so you hit up the wrong cat to get it. They front you the cash, but now you owe ’em big time. You ain’t free no more—you on the hook ’til that loot is paid back, and then some. It’s that loan from a wise guy that makes you a slave to the game.
手当をする (てあて を する)
English: To give first aid; to treat a wound.
When a deal goes sideways, and somebody gets popped, you gotta patch ’em up. This ain’t no hospital visit; this is on the low. You grab some dirty rags, some liquor to clean it out, and you fix your homie up so he can get back in the action. It’s about bein’ your own medic in the streets when you can’t be seen by the law.
偽造する (ぎぞう する)
English: To forge; to falsify; to counterfeit.
This is all about makin’ a fake that looks real. You see it with everything, from counterfeit cash to phony IDs. It’s about gettin’ the hustle on and makin’ somethin’ out of nothin’, trickin’ the system with a good lie. It’s about creatin’ a whole new identity or a stack of bills that ain’t got no business bein’ out here.
囚われた (とらわれた)
English: Captured; trapped.
You’re in a bad spot, and there’s no way out. The cops got you, the rival crew got you, or you got caught in your own mess. You ain’t free no more; you’re locked down, tied up, or sittin’ in a cell. This is that moment when the hustle stops, and you’re just a pawn in someone else’s game.
隠滅する (いんめつ する)
English: To destroy or conceal evidence.
When the heat is on, you gotta clean up the mess. This is about gettin’ rid of the evidence—the weapon, the clothes, the paperwork, all of it. You burn it, bury it, or flush it down the toilet. It’s a key move for any smooth operator lookin’ to stay one step ahead of the law. You can’t leave no trail if you wanna stay out of the pen.
Peep these examples, and you’ll be droppin’ this grammar like a pro.
俺がてめぇの借金を全部払ってあげるよ。
I’ll pay off all your debts for you.
この拳銃の掃除をしてあげるよ。
I’ll clean this handgun for you.
この計画は俺が立ててあげる。
I’ll make this plan for you.
お前の傷の手当をしてあげるよ。
I’ll treat your wounds for you.
俺がパスポートを偽造してあげる。
I’ll forge a passport for you.
囚われた仲間を助けてあげる。
I’ll help our captured comrade.
その面倒な奴を始末してあげる。
I’ll take care of that troublesome guy for you.
俺がこの件を調べてあげるから、黙ってろ。
I’ll investigate this matter for you, so shut your mouth.
証拠を隠滅してあげるって約束しただろ。
I promised I’d destroy the evidence for you, didn’t I?
敵の居場所を見つけてあげるよ。
I’ll find the enemy’s location for you.
Stay dangerous, fam.
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