Coming to wake someone with 〜に来る
Grammar Explanation: Coming to for a purpose with 〜に来る
As the new butler, Hayate is tasked with waking Nagi for breakfast, but he’s quickly startled by the sight of a large white tiger sleeping alongside her. Nagi wakes and notices Hayate standing in her room.
- ナギ:
- 「あ…起こしに来てくれたのか、ありがとう…」
- “Ah... did you come to wake me up? Thanks...”
- 「ところで何を固まっているのだ？」
- “By the way, why are you frozen stiff?”
- “Ah... did you come to wake me up? Thanks...”
- ハヤテ:
- 「い…いえ… その…うしろ…」
- “N-no... it's just... behind you...”
Key Points
1起こしに来てくれた means came to wake me
- 起こし is the verb stem of 起こす, followed by に to mark purpose.
- 来てくれた adds that Hayate came and did it for Nagi’s benefit.
2のか asks for confirmation
- Nagi infers Hayate’s purpose from him standing in her room.
- のか makes the question explanatory: “so, you came to wake me?”
3The gratitude belongs to くれた
- くれる frames the action as kindness toward the speaker.
- That is why ありがとう follows so naturally.
4固まっている means frozen in place
- The literal image is having gone stiff or solid, but here it describes Hayate standing there unable to react.
- 何を…のだ? presses for an explanation: “why are you…?” rather than asking what object he is freezing.
See Also
- Grammar: Receiving kindness with 〜てくれる
ハヤテのごとく！ © its respective creators. It is used here for educational commentary.