Traditional Chinese - Asking Permission

我可以___嗎？

Wǒ kěyǐ ___ ma?

Can I ___?

Meaning: 我可以___嗎？ (Wǒ kěyǐ ___ ma?) means “Can I ___?”

When to use: Use this for the most basic, natural way to ask permission. Examples: 我可以坐這裡嗎？ (Wǒ kěyǐ zuò zhèlǐ ma?) “Can I sit here?” / 我可以拍照嗎？ (Wǒ kěyǐ pāi zhàopiàn ma?) “Can I take photos?”

Tip: Don’t forget 嗎 (ma) at the end when you are asking a yes/no question.

我們可以___嗎？

Wǒmen kěyǐ ___ ma?

Can we ___?

Meaning: 我們可以___嗎？ (Wǒmen kěyǐ ___ ma?) means “Can we ___?”

When to use: Use this when you are asking permission for yourself and one or more other people. Examples: 我們可以進去嗎？ (Wǒmen kěyǐ jìnqù ma?) “Can we go in?” / 我們可以坐這裡嗎？ (Wǒmen kěyǐ zuò zhèlǐ ma?) “Can we sit here?”

請問我可以___嗎？

Qǐngwèn wǒ kěyǐ ___ ma?

May I ___?

Meaning: 請問我可以___嗎？ (Qǐngwèn wǒ kěyǐ ___ ma?) means “May I ___?”

When to use: Use this polite version with staff, strangers, or in work situations. Examples: 請問我可以用廁所嗎？ (Qǐngwèn wǒ kěyǐ yòng cèsuǒ ma?) “May I use the restroom?” / 請問我可以看一下嗎？ (Qǐngwèn wǒ kěyǐ kàn yíxià ma?) “May I take a look?”

Tip: 請問 (qǐngwèn) is a polite attention-getter, not exactly “please.” Use it before asking a question.

我___，可以嗎？

Wǒ ___, kěyǐ ma?

Is it okay if I ___?

Meaning: 我___，可以嗎？ (Wǒ ___, kěyǐ ma?) means “Is it okay if I ___?”

When to use: Use this to check if an action is allowed; it sounds very natural in conversation. Examples: 我坐這裡，可以嗎？ (Wǒ zuò zhèlǐ, kěyǐ ma?) “Is it okay if I sit here?” / 我開窗戶，可以嗎？ (Wǒ kāi chuānghù, kěyǐ ma?) “Is it okay if I open the window?”

我可以用___嗎？

Wǒ kěyǐ yòng ___ ma?

Can I use ___?

Meaning: 我可以用___嗎？ (Wǒ kěyǐ yòng ___ ma?) means “Can I use ___?”

When to use: Use this when asking to use something, such as a restroom, phone, or charger. Examples: 我可以用你的充電器嗎？ (Wǒ kěyǐ yòng nǐ de chōngdiànqì ma?) “Can I use your charger?” / 我可以用電話嗎？ (Wǒ kěyǐ yòng diànhuà ma?) “Can I use the phone?”

Tip: Use 用 (yòng) for “use.” Don’t use 拿 (ná) unless you mean “take” or “pick up.”

我可以拿___嗎？

Wǒ kěyǐ ná ___ ma?

Can I take ___?

Meaning: 我可以拿___嗎？ (Wǒ kěyǐ ná ___ ma?) means “Can I take ___?”

When to use: Use this when you want to take or pick up something. Examples: 我可以拿一張菜單嗎？ (Wǒ kěyǐ ná yì zhāng càidān ma?) “Can I take a menu?” / 我可以拿這個嗎？ (Wǒ kěyǐ ná zhège ma?) “Can I take this?”

可以

Kěyǐ.

Yes, you can.

Meaning: 可以。 (Kěyǐ.) means “Yes, you can.”

When to use: Use this as the shortest clear yes when giving permission. Examples: 可以。 (Kěyǐ.) “Yes, you can.” / 可以，請坐。 (Kěyǐ, qǐng zuò.) “Yes, please sit.”

可以啊，沒問題。

Kěyǐ a, méi wèntí.

Sure, go ahead.

Meaning: 可以啊，沒問題。 (Kěyǐ a, méi wèntí.) means “Sure, go ahead.”

When to use: Use this friendly answer when the request is totally fine. Examples: 可以啊，沒問題。 (Kěyǐ a, méi wèntí.) “Sure, go ahead.” / 可以啊，沒問題，請用。 (Kěyǐ a, méi wèntí, qǐng yòng.) “Sure, no problem, please use it.”

可以，沒關係

Kěyǐ, méi guānxi.

That's okay.

Meaning: 可以，沒關係。 (Kěyǐ, méi guānxi.) means “That’s okay.”

When to use: Use this when something is acceptable or not a problem. Examples: 可以，沒關係。 (Kěyǐ, méi guānxi.) “That’s okay.” / 可以，沒關係，你先用。 (Kěyǐ, méi guānxi, nǐ xiān yòng.) “That’s okay, you use it first.”

不好意思，不行。

Bùhǎoyìsi, bù xíng.

No, sorry.

Meaning: 不好意思，不行。 (Bùhǎoyìsi, bù xíng.) means “No, sorry.”

When to use: Use this to refuse permission politely. Examples: 不好意思，不行。 (Bùhǎoyìsi, bù xíng.) “No, sorry.” / 不好意思，這裡不行。 (Bùhǎoyìsi, zhèlǐ bù xíng.) “Sorry, not here.”

Tip: 不行 (bù xíng) can sound direct by itself. Adding 不好意思 (bùhǎoyìsi) makes the refusal softer.

___可以嗎

___ kěyǐ ma?

Is ___ allowed?

Meaning: ___可以嗎？ (___ kěyǐ ma?) means “Is ___ allowed?”

When to use: Use this broad pattern to ask if an action or thing is permitted. Examples: 拍照可以嗎？ (Pāi zhàopiàn kěyǐ ma?) “Is taking photos allowed?” / 外帶可以嗎？ (Wàidài kěyǐ ma?) “Is takeout okay?”

___可以嗎

___ kěyǐ ma?

Are ___ allowed?

Meaning: ___可以嗎？ (___ kěyǐ ma?) means “Are ___ allowed?”

When to use: Use this concise pattern to ask if certain people or things are allowed. Examples: 小孩可以嗎？ (Xiǎohái kěyǐ ma?) “Are kids allowed?” / 狗可以嗎？ (Gǒu kěyǐ ma?) “Are dogs allowed?”

這裡可以這樣嗎？

Zhèlǐ kěyǐ zhèyàng ma?

Is it allowed here?

Meaning: 這裡可以這樣嗎？ (Zhèlǐ kěyǐ zhèyàng ma?) means “Is it allowed here?”

When to use: Use this when you are doing or about to do something and want to check if it is okay in this place. Examples: 這裡可以這樣嗎？ (Zhèlǐ kěyǐ zhèyàng ma?) “Is it allowed here?” / 這裡可以這樣嗎？我不確定。 (Zhèlǐ kěyǐ zhèyàng ma? Wǒ bù quèdìng.) “Is it allowed here? I’m not sure.”