てくれない・てもらえない

This grammar is used when requesting someone to do something. てくれない is casual and intimate; it asks the listener to do something for the speaker and can sound a bit demanding or brusque if used with strangers or in formal situations. てもらえない is more polite and indirect; it asks whether the listener is able to do something for you and is softer in tone. These forms focus on the speaker wanting help from the listener, often implying a sense of obligation or need. Usage notes: - Use てくれない with close friends, family, or someone you are comfortable with. - Use てもらえない for a polite request, or with people you don’t know well; it can also be used to politely but firmly request assistance. - The subject is usually the listener (you) who would perform the action for the speaker; the verb in て-form precedes the request. The negative form adds nuance of asking for permission or possibility rather than a direct command. - In more formal contexts, you might use 〜ていただけませんか or 〜ていただけませんでしょうか, but てもらえない is common in everyday conversation. Examples (Japanese with English translations): - ちょっと待っててくれない？ → Could you wait a moment for me? - この書類、手伝ってくれない？ → Won’t you help me with this document? - あの箱を運ぶのを手伝ってもらえない？ → Could you help carry that box? - この宿題を見てもらえない？ → Could you take a look at this homework for me?