Simplified Chinese - Permission

Lesson 19 of 156

A friendly scene showing people asking permission in Simplified Chinese: a student asking to use a library computer.

Goal: Asking and giving permission in everyday situations

Free Simplified Chinese lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Welcome back — great to see you at lesson 19! In this short lesson we'll focus on helpful, everyday permission phrases you can use right away. Practice by listening, repeating, and then saying these lines out loud.

Level A1: In this lesson you'll learn and practice common ways to ask for permission (for yourself and for a group) and friendly ways to say yes or no. We'll cover phrases like 我可以___吗？ (Wǒ kěyǐ ___ ma?) and 请问，我可以___吗？ (Qǐngwèn, wǒ kěyǐ ___ ma?). This CEFR-aligned lesson focuses on asking to use things, take items, and checking place rules.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Ask politely for permission using 我可以___吗？ (Wǒ kěyǐ ___ ma?) and 请问，我可以___吗？ (Qǐngwèn, wǒ kěyǐ ___ ma?).
  • Ask for group permission with 我们可以___吗？ (Wǒmen kěyǐ ___ ma?).
  • Give simple permissions and polite refusals like 可以 (Kěyǐ) and 不好意思，不行 (Bù hǎoyìsi, bù xíng).
  • Level A1: Trust yourself to repeat and use these short, real-life phrases.
Close-up of two coworkers at an office asking politely in Simplified Chinese about using a meeting room.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

我可以___吗？

Wǒ kěyǐ ___ ma?

Can I ___?

Meaning: Can I ___?

When to use: Use this neutral pattern to ask permission for something you want to do.

我可以借你的笔吗？

Wǒ kěyǐ jiè nǐ de bǐ ma?

Can I borrow your pen?
我可以现在离开吗？

Wǒ kěyǐ xiànzài líkāi ma?

Can I leave now?

我们可以___吗？

Wǒmen kěyǐ ___ ma?

Can we ___?

Meaning: Can we ___?

When to use: Use to ask permission for a group action (you + others).

我们可以一起去吃饭吗？

Wǒmen kěyǐ yìqǐ qù chīfàn ma?

Can we go eat together?
我们可以现在开始开会吗？

Wǒmen kěyǐ xiànzài kāishǐ kāihuì ma?

Can we start the meeting now?

请问，我可以___吗？

Qǐngwèn, wǒ kěyǐ ___ ma?

May I ___?

Meaning: May I ___? (polite)

When to use: Add 请问 (Qǐngwèn) to be more polite when asking strangers or officials.

Tip: Avoid dropping 请问 in formal places — it's a small politeness that helps.

请问，我可以用洗手间吗？

Qǐngwèn, wǒ kěyǐ yòng xǐshǒujiān ma?

Excuse me, may I use the restroom?
请问，我可以拍照吗？

Qǐngwèn, wǒ kěyǐ pāizhào ma?

Excuse me, may I take a photo?

我___，可以吗？

Wǒ ___, kěyǐ ma?

Is it okay if I ___?

Meaning: Is it okay if I ___?

When to use: Use this to check if a specific action is allowed or convenient right now.

我把窗户打开，可以吗？

Wǒ bǎ chuānghù dǎkāi, kěyǐ ma?

If I open the window, is that okay?
我先走一步，可以吗？

Wǒ xiān zǒu yí bù, kěyǐ ma?

Is it okay if I leave a bit early?

我可以用___吗？

Wǒ kěyǐ yòng ___ ma?

Can I use ___?

Meaning: Can I use ___?

When to use: Ask this when you want to use an object, device, or room.

我可以用你的手机吗？

Wǒ kěyǐ yòng nǐ de shǒujī ma?

Can I use your phone?
我可以用会议室吗？

Wǒ kěyǐ yòng huìyìshì ma?

Can I use the meeting room?

我可以拿___吗？

Wǒ kěyǐ ná ___ ma?

Can I take ___?

Meaning: Can I take ___?

When to use: Use when you want permission to take or pick up an object.

Tip: Don’t confuse 拿 (ná) with 带 (dài) — 拿 is take/pick up now, 带 is bring/take along.

我可以拿那本书吗？

Wǒ kěyǐ ná nà běn shū ma?

Can I take that book?
我可以拿一杯水吗？

Wǒ kěyǐ ná yì bēi shuǐ ma?

Can I take a cup of water?

可以

Kěyǐ.

Yes, you can.

Meaning: Yes, you can.

When to use: Short, natural way to give permission in many situations.

A: 我可以坐这儿吗？ B: 可以。

A: Wǒ kěyǐ zuò zhèr ma? B: Kěyǐ.

A: Can I sit here? B: Yes, you can.
可以，请用你的电话。

Kěyǐ, qǐng yòng nǐ de diànhuà.

Yes, go ahead, use your phone.

可以，没问题

Kěyǐ, méi wèntí.

Sure, go ahead.

Meaning: Sure, go ahead.

When to use: Friendly way to give permission; casual and warm.

你可以借我的伞。可以，没问题。

Nǐ kěyǐ jiè wǒ de sǎn. Kěyǐ, méi wèntí.

You can borrow my umbrella. Sure, go ahead.
A: 我可以先用电脑吗？ B: 可以，没问题。

A: Wǒ kěyǐ xiān yòng diànnǎo ma? B: Kěyǐ, méi wèntí.

A: Can I use the computer first? B: Sure, go ahead.

没问题

Méi wèntí.

That's okay.

Meaning: That's okay.

When to use: Say this to indicate something is acceptable or permitted.

你迟到了也没关系，没问题。

Nǐ chídào le yě méi guānxi, méi wèntí.

It's okay that you're late.
你可以用这张票，没问题。

Nǐ kěyǐ yòng zhè zhāng piào, méi wèntí.

You can use this ticket, that's fine.

不好意思，不行。

Bù hǎoyìsi, bù xíng.

No, sorry.

Meaning: No, sorry.

When to use: Polite but clear refusal of permission; use when you need to deny a request.

不好意思，不行。这里不能拍照。

Bù hǎoyìsi, bù xíng. Zhèlǐ bù néng pāizhào.

Sorry, no. You can't take photos here.
不好意思，不行。我正要用它。

Bù hǎoyìsi, bù xíng. Wǒ zhèng yào yòng tā.

Sorry, no. I'm about to use it.

___可以吗

___ kěyǐ ma?

Is ___ allowed?

Meaning: Is ___ allowed?

When to use: Ask whether a specific action is permitted; often used with verbs or activities.

在这里吃东西可以吗？

Zài zhèlǐ chī dōngxī kěyǐ ma?

Is eating here allowed?
带宠物可以吗

Dài chǒngwù kěyǐ ma?

Are pets allowed?

___可以吗

___ kěyǐ ma?

Are ___ allowed?

Meaning: Are ___ allowed?

When to use: Use to ask if multiple things or people are permitted in a situation.

这些食品可以带进学校吗？

Zhèxiē shípǐn kěyǐ dài jìn xuéxiào ma?

Are these foods allowed into the school?
外来访客可以同时进入吗？

Wàilái fǎngkè kěyǐ tóngshí jìnrù ma?

Are outside visitors allowed in at the same time?

这里可以这样吗？

zhèlǐ kěyǐ zhèyàng ma?

Is it allowed here?

Meaning: Is it allowed here?

When to use: Ask if an action is permitted in the current place (like a museum, library, or classroom).

这里可以这样吗？不要太吵好吗？

Zhèlǐ kěyǐ zhèyàng ma? Bùyào tài chǎo hǎo ma?

Is this allowed here? Please don't be too noisy, okay?
在车站这里可以这样吗？（指吃东西）

Zài chēzhàn zhèlǐ kěyǐ zhèyàng ma? (zhǐ chī dōngxī)

Is it allowed here at the station (to eat)?

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Reception desk at a small museum

Anna and David speaking at a reception desk in Simplified Chinese, one asking permission and the other responding.

What does Anna ask permission to use?

Portrait of Anna in a Simplified Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

请问，我可以用这台相机吗？

Qǐngwèn, wǒ kěyǐ yòng zhè tái xiàngjī ma?

Excuse me, may I use this camera?

Portrait of David in a Simplified Chinese lesson dialogue

David

可以，没问题。小心点。

Kěyǐ, méi wèntí. Xiǎoxīn diǎn.

Sure, go ahead. Be careful.

Portrait of Anna in a Simplified Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

我可以拿几张宣传单吗？

Wǒ kěyǐ ná jǐ zhāng xuānchuán dān ma?

Can I take a few flyers?

Portrait of David in a Simplified Chinese lesson dialogue

David

不好意思，不行，今天只有一张给每位客人。

Bù hǎoyìsi, bù xíng, jīntiān zhǐ yǒu yì zhāng gěi měi wèi kèrén.

Sorry, no. Today there is only one per visitor.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

How do you say 'Can we go now?' in Chinese?

Which phrase politely asks 'May I use the restroom?'

How would you politely refuse a request (say 'No, sorry.')?

Which sentence asks 'Can I take that book?'

The teacher said everyone can leave. Xiaoming wants to go first; he'll ask: Can I leave first?

老师在教室说大家可以离开了。小明想先走，他会问：___

The students want to go together; the class rep asks the teacher: Can we go to the library?

同学们想一起去图书馆，班长问老师：___

At the library desk, the student asks the librarian: Can I take that book?

在图书馆柜台前，学生想拿一本书，问管理员：___

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

我可以___吗？

Wǒ kěyǐ ___ ma?

Can I ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

我们可以___吗？

Wǒmen kěyǐ ___ ma?

Can we ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

请问，我可以___吗？

Qǐngwèn, wǒ kěyǐ ___ ma?

May I ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

我___，可以吗？

Wǒ ___, kěyǐ ma?

Is it okay if I ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

我可以用___吗？

Wǒ kěyǐ yòng ___ ma?

Can I use ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

我可以拿___吗？

Wǒ kěyǐ ná ___ ma?

Can I take ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

可以

Kěyǐ.

Yes, you can.

Say this phrase out loud:

可以，没问题

Kěyǐ, méi wèntí.

Sure, go ahead.

Say this phrase out loud:

没问题

Méi wèntí.

That's okay.

Say this phrase out loud:

不好意思，不行。

Bù hǎoyìsi, bù xíng.

No, sorry.

Say this phrase out loud:

___可以吗

___ kěyǐ ma?

Are ___ allowed?

Say this phrase out loud:

___可以吗

___ kěyǐ ma?

Are ___ allowed?

Say this phrase out loud:

这里可以这样吗？

Zhèlǐ kěyǐ zhèyàng ma?

Is it allowed here?