てくれない / てもらえない ～て +【くれない】

The patterns てくれない and てもらえない are used to make requests by framing them as negative questions. In Japanese, asking "Won't you do X?" or "Can't I have you do X?" sounds softer and less imposing than a direct command, making these forms natural ways to ask for favors in casual conversation.

てくれない？

This is the negative form of てくれる (to do something for me) used as a question. It literally means "Won't you do X for me?" and functions as a casual request.

てもらえない？

This is the negative potential form of てもらう (to have someone do something for me). It literally means "Can't I have you do X?" and is slightly more polite than てくれない because it frames the request from the speaker's perspective rather than directing the listener.

Polite forms

Both patterns have polite equivalents using ～ませんか:

• てくれませんか – polite request
• てもらえませんか – more polite request

For even greater politeness, the honorific equivalents ていただけませんか and てくださいませんか can be used in formal situations.

Politeness scale (least → most polite)

1. ～てくれない？ – casual, among friends and family
2. ～てもらえない？ – casual but slightly softer
3. ～てくれませんか – polite
4. ～てもらえませんか – more polite
5. ～ていただけませんか – formal/humble

Usage notes

These request forms are questions, so in speech the intonation rises at the end. In casual writing, a question mark is often added. てくれない should generally be used with people of equal or lower social standing, while てもらえない is safer with people you are less close to.