2784
Initially I wanted to compare the rudeness level of `[v]ないでくれ。` and`[v]な。` but
since that may be a rather vague question:

  1. In what situation is it appropriate to use `[v]ないでくれ。` but not `[v]な。` ?

  2. In what situation is it appropriate to use `[v]な。` but not `[v]ないでくれ。` ?

I mean I'm not asking for a list of examples when it is appropriate to use 1)
or 2), but rather one example on when it is appropriate to use `[v]ないでくれ。` but
not `[v]な。` and explanation on why it is so, and another example on when it is
appropriate to use `[v]な。` but not `[v]ないでくれ。` \+ explanation.

PS: as for the くれ i'm referring to the short / abrupt / manly くれ and not the
くれ in 勘弁してくれよ~
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-08-17T11:11:26.340
2702
2011-12-30T04:15:38.187
2011-12-30T04:15:38.187
264
question
grammar conjugations politeness negation perspective
When is it appropriate to use [v] ないでくれ instead of [v] な?
* [v]な is an order, in plain imperative form: "Don't [v]."
  * [v]ないでくれ is a request/plea: "Please don't [v]." (It is basically the plain form of [v]ないでください, since 〜てくださる is the respectful form 尊敬語 of 〜てくれる.)

Both [v]な and [v]ないでくれ are in plain form and cannot be used in situations
where respectful (尊敬語) and/or polite (丁寧語) forms are required (e.g. talking to
superiors or people you are not close to). So that is the baseline of
appropriateness: you can't be in a position where 〜ます is required, or any form
of keigo. So the difference between [v]な and [v]ないでくれ is not "politeness" but
rather whether you are _ordering_ someone not to do something, or
_asking/pleading with_ them not to do it.

[There may also be another difference: My feeling is that [v]ないでくれ is a bit
old-fashioned, even "theatrical," and therefore no longer really "colloquial"
as such in the speech of young people in particular. Anyone with a bigger data
set or native intuition want to comment on this?]

So if you are not in a position to give orders, or you are but want to flatter
the person you are speaking to, you would not use [v]な, and you might choose
[v]ないでくれ instead. (You also might combine it with 頼むよ or something, which
makes the "throwing myself at your mercy" part more explicit.)

On the other hand, if you _are_ in a position to give orders, and don't want
to be delicate (perhaps because you want to make it clear who is boss, or
perhaps because it is appropriate to give orders in that situation and
phrasing it in the form of a request would be odd), or if you share
camaraderie with someone so close that [v]な is allowed in friendly (if
boisterous) conversation, you might use [v]な.

Standard disclaimer: It is obviously impossible to make a list of situations
where X is appropriate and X′ is not, because so much is dependent on context;
and even in the above situations, there might be other considerations blocking
[v]な and/or [v]ないでくれ, or making other options more appealing (e.g. [v]ないで(よ)
etc.).
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-08-21T13:44:56.680
2784
2011-08-21T23:53:30.647
2011-08-21T23:53:30.647
531
531
2702
answer