Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 7: 8/18

～て + くれない

Won't you?, Will you?, Could you?, Can you?, Would you?

These expressions are used with a rising intonation

Structure

Verb［て］+ くれない（か）？
Verb［て］+ もらえない（か）？

Could you not
Verb［ないで］+ くれない（か）？
Verb［ないで］+ もらえない（か）？

Levels of politeness

Details

  • Register

    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

About てくれない・てもらえない

When used in the negative, てくれない (coming from てくれる), and てもらえない (coming from てもらえる), are similar to the negative question form of じゃないか. They express the following:
てくれない - Would you not do (A) for me?
てもらえない - Could I not have you do (A) for me?
  • 私(わたし)に漢字(かんじ)を教(おし)えてくれない？
    Would you not teach me kanji? (Would you please teach me kanji?)
  • 道(みち)を調(しら)べてもらえない？
    Could I get you to look up the way?
In both of these constructions. か (the question particle) may be omitted. However, they do sound slightly more polite when か is used.
  • 今日(きょう)だけ自転車(じてんしゃ)を貸(か)してくれないか？
    Just for today, would you not let me borrow your bike?
  • テレビを点(つ)けてもらえないか。
    Could I get you to turn the TV on for me, please?
Let's examine the following list, for a scale of the level of politeness.
てくれ, てくれる, てもらえる, てくれない（か）, てもらえない（か）
Caution
Despite the above list, てくれ may be considered a bit rude, and should be avoided in most situations.

Examples

  • お茶(ちゃ)を入(い)れてくれない？

    Won't you make some tea for me?

  • うちでも働(はたら)いてくれない？

    Won't you work at my place (for me) too?

  • まつさに先生(せんせい)：「みしまさん、ちょっとにったさんを手伝(てつだ)ってあげてくれない？」

    Matsusani-sensei: 'Mishima-san, won't you help Nitta a bit?'

    In this case help for a 3rd person is being requested, not for the speaker himself/herself.

  • こっちに醤油(しょうゆ)を取(と)ってもらえない？

    Won't you pass (take) the soy sauce (for me?)

  • ヘアドライヤーを貸(か)してもらえない？朝(あさ)だけ。

    Could I get you to lend me your hairdryer? Only for the morning.

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てくれない・てもらえない – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (12 in total)

  • dom1911

    dom1911

    Thanks so much, love this community

  • Superpnut

    Superpnut

    I’m wondering if someone can explain to me why this grammar point works.
    Because it’s based off of てくれる てくれない・てもらえない | Japanese Grammar SRS ,right?
    Which just kind of means to receive unless I’m mistaken.
    And ない just means pretty much no, once again unless I’m mistaken.
    So how does “Receive” + “no” = won’t you?

    Is there a reason why those two things together makes that?
    Am I just dumb for not seeing it?
    What is it?

    Also, the rising intonation part…that just means you raise your pitch at the end right?

  • winningtofu

    winningtofu

    In a casual request can you not use とく？ Specifically, I’m doing reviews atm and it won’t accept 炊いといてくれない？ Am I misspelling something or is it too rude to use even in a casual setting?!

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