Speakable Japanese

How to Ask "May I?" in Japanese: Asking Permission (...-te mo ii desu ka)

Hello! You have mastered the expressions for requests, '〜てください' and '〜ないでください'.
In this lesson, we will change perspective and learn to ask a conversation partner for permission for our own actions, that is, 'May I do something?'. This is a very polite and important expression that expands your capabilities!

🎯 Lesson Goal

Learn to politely ask for permission from your conversation partner using the chunk 「〜てもいいですか？」 (...-te mo ii desu ka?)!

Step 1 Discover

Let's look at how this is used in a real conversation. Notice how they grant or deny permission.

👩🏻
Yuki

ここに座ってもいいですか？

(Koko ni suwatte mo ii desu ka?)

👨🏼
Leo

はい、どうぞ。

(Hai, douzo.)

💡

Did you notice?

To give permission, Leo says"Hai, douzo"(Yes, you may). If he wanted to softly deny permission, he would say"Sumimasen, chotto..."instead of a direct "No".

Step 2 The Pattern

You can easily form this expression by simply adding 'もいいですか？' to the verb's 'te-form'.

Basic Chunk

もいいですか？

( mo ii desu ka?)

🔑 Key Point: Making the form

撮ります (torimasu) → 撮って (totte) → 撮ってもいいですか？ (totte mo ii desu ka?)
座ります (suwarimasu) → 座って (suwatte) → 座ってもいいですか？ (suwatte mo ii desu ka?)

Step 3 Pattern Practice

Read these different scenarios out loud!

  • In a store Touch this product

    この商品を 触ってもいいですか？

    (Kono shouhin o sawatte mo ii desu ka?)

  • In a classroom Go to the toilet

    トイレに 行ってもいいですか？

    (Toire ni itte mo ii desu ka?)

  • At a company Take a day off tomorrow

    明日、会社を 休んでもいいですか？

    (Ashita, kaisha o yasunde mo ii desu ka?)

Step 4 Make It Yours!

This is the most important step! Imagine a situation where you want to ask someone for permission. Pick words from the Cheat Sheet below and complete the phrase.

👉 すみません、 YOUR INFO もいいですか？

Vocabulary Cheat Sheet

Verbs (te-form)

  • 使って tsukatte (to use)
  • 借りて karite (to borrow)
  • 着て kite (to wear clothes)
  • 入って haitte (to enter)
  • 頼んで tanonde (to order/ask)
  • 帰って kaette (to return home)

Example Nouns

  • パソコン pasokon (computer)
  • ペン pen (pen)
  • 写真 shashin (photograph)
  • 窓 mado (window)
  • 服 fuku (clothes)

Bonus Go Beyond the Basics

In real life, you'll also need to say "Is it okay if I don't...?" and speak casually with friends. Here’s a quick guide to leveling up your conversation!

🙅‍♀️ 1. Negative

Example: Not eating

食べなくてもいいですか？

(Tabenakute mo ii desu ka?)

Example: Not going

行かなくてもいいですか？

(Ikanakute mo ii desu ka?)

🤝 2. Friendly & Casual

Asking a friend

これ、食べてもいい？

(Kore, tabete mo ii?)

Answering a friend

うん、いいよ！

(Un, iiyo!- Yeah, sure!)

Summary Lesson Review

Asking for Permission: Add 〜てもいいですか？ (te mo ii desu ka?) to a verb's te-form to politely ask "May I do...?".

Giving Permission: To grant permission, answer with はい、どうぞ (Hai, douzo).

Casual Permission: With friends, just drop "desu ka" and say 〜てもいい？ (te mo ii?).

Practice Drill

1 / X Polite

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