Traditional Chinese - Permission

Lesson 20 of 152

A friendly visitor in Taiwan asks a staff member for permission inside a bright public space, with Traditional Chinese signs nearby. The scene introduces Taiwan Mandarin phrases for asking what is allowed.

Goal: Ask what’s allowed, and politely set boundaries.

Free traditional Chinese lessons with Taiwan Mandarin audio and speaking practice.

Lesson 20! You’re now ready for one of the most useful little social skills: asking before you do something.

Level A1: In this lesson, you’ll practice asking if you need permission, finding out who to ask, and saying what people can or can’t do in a place. These phrases are handy in museums, cafés, offices, classrooms, and anywhere a small “Can I?” saves you from a big “Oops.”

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Ask if permission is needed with 要___需要先取得同意嗎？ (Yào ___ xūyào xiān qǔdé tóngyì ma?).
  • Ask who can give permission using 我可以問誰？ (Wǒ kěyǐ wèn shéi?).
  • Give or deny permission with 你可以在這裡___。 (Nǐ kěyǐ zài zhèlǐ ___.) and 這裡不能___。 (Zhèlǐ bùnéng ___.).
  • Politely tell someone not to do something with 請不要___。 (Qǐng bùyào ___.).
A cozy Taipei museum entrance where a learner checks whether photos are allowed. The image supports a Traditional Chinese Taiwan Mandarin lesson about permission.

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.

要___需要先取得同意嗎？

Yào ___ xūyào xiān qǔdé tóngyì ma?

Do I need permission to ___?

Meaning: 要___需要先取得同意嗎？ (Yào ___ xūyào xiān qǔdé tóngyì ma?) means “Do I need permission to ___?”

When to use: Use it before doing something that might require approval, like taking photos, parking, entering, or recording.

要拍照需要先取得同意嗎？

Yào pāizhào xūyào xiān qǔdé tóngyì ma?

Do I need permission to take photos?
要在這裡停車需要先取得同意嗎？

Yào zài zhèlǐ tíngchē xūyào xiān qǔdé tóngyì ma?

Do I need permission to park here?

我可以問誰

Wǒ kěyǐ wèn shéi?

Who can I ask?

Meaning: 我可以問誰？ (Wǒ kěyǐ wèn shéi?) means “Who can I ask?”

When to use: Use it when you are not sure who can give permission or information.

我可以問誰

Wǒ kěyǐ wèn shéi?

Who can I ask?
不好意思，我可以問誰？

Bùhǎoyìsi, wǒ kěyǐ wèn shéi?

Excuse me, who can I ask?

你可以在這裡___。

Nǐ kěyǐ zài zhèlǐ ___.

You can ___ here.

Meaning: 你可以在這裡___。 (Nǐ kěyǐ zài zhèlǐ ___.) means “You can ___ here.”

When to use: Use it to give someone permission to do an action in the current place.

Tip: Keep 在這裡 (zài zhèlǐ) before the action in this pattern: 你可以在這裡坐。 (Nǐ kěyǐ zài zhèlǐ zuò.)

你可以在這裡坐。

Nǐ kěyǐ zài zhèlǐ zuò.

You can sit here.
你可以在這裡喝水。

Nǐ kěyǐ zài zhèlǐ hē shuǐ.

You can drink water here.

這裡不能___。

Zhèlǐ bùnéng ___.

You can't ___ here.

Meaning: 這裡不能___。 (Zhèlǐ bùnéng ___.) means “You can’t ___ here.”

When to use: Use it for rules in a place, like no eating, no smoking, or no recording.

Tip: 不能 (bùnéng) here means “not allowed” or “can’t.”

這裡不能吃東西。

Zhèlǐ bùnéng chī dōngxi.

You can’t eat here.
這裡不能抽菸

Zhèlǐ bùnéng chōuyān.

You can’t smoke here.

這樣可以

Zhèyàng kěyǐ.

It's allowed.

Meaning: 這樣可以。 (Zhèyàng kěyǐ.) means “It’s allowed” or “This way is okay.”

When to use: Use it to confirm that someone’s action or plan is acceptable.

你把包包放這裡，這樣可以。

Nǐ bǎ bāobāo fàng zhèlǐ, zhèyàng kěyǐ.

You put your bag here; that’s okay.
小聲講電話，這樣可以。

Xiǎoshēng jiǎng diànhuà, zhèyàng kěyǐ.

Speaking quietly on the phone is okay.

這樣不行

Zhèyàng bùxíng.

It's not allowed.

Meaning: 這樣不行。 (Zhèyàng bùxíng.) means “It’s not allowed” or “This way is not okay.”

When to use: Use it when someone’s action is not acceptable or breaks a rule.

在這裡拍照，這樣不行。

Zài zhèlǐ pāizhào, zhèyàng bùxíng.

Taking photos here is not okay.
插隊，這樣不行。

Chāduì, zhèyàng bùxíng.

Cutting in line is not okay.

請不要___

Qǐng bùyào ___.

Please don't ___.

Meaning: 請不要___。 (Qǐng bùyào ___.) means “Please don’t ___.”

When to use: Use it to politely ask someone not to do something.

Tip: 請不要 (qǐng bùyào) is polite. 不要 (bùyào) alone can sound more direct.

請不要拍照

Qǐng bùyào pāizhào.

Please don’t take photos.
請不要大聲講電話。

Qǐng bùyào dàshēng jiǎng diànhuà.

Please don’t talk loudly on the phone.

可以，當然可以。

Kěyǐ, dāngrán kěyǐ.

Yes, of course.

Meaning: 可以，當然可以。 (Kěyǐ, dāngrán kěyǐ.) means “Yes, of course.”

When to use: Use it to give permission in a friendly, reassuring way.

我可以坐這裡嗎？可以，當然可以。

Wǒ kěyǐ zuò zhèlǐ ma? Kěyǐ, dāngrán kěyǐ.

Can I sit here? Yes, of course.
我可以借一下筆嗎？可以，當然可以。

Wǒ kěyǐ jiè yíxià bǐ ma? Kěyǐ, dāngrán kěyǐ.

Can I borrow a pen for a moment? Yes, of course.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

David is visiting a small museum in Taipei. Anna works there and helps him understand what is allowed.

Two people talk politely near a museum counter in Taiwan, one asking if taking photos is okay. The scene highlights spoken Taiwan Mandarin permission phrases in Traditional Chinese.

What does David want to do at the museum?

Portrait of David in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

David

不好意思，要拍照需要先取得同意嗎？

Bùhǎoyìsi, yào pāizhào xūyào xiān qǔdé tóngyì ma?

Excuse me, do I need permission to take photos?

Portrait of Anna in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

可以，當然可以。你可以在這裡拍照。

Kěyǐ, dāngrán kěyǐ. Nǐ kěyǐ zài zhèlǐ pāizhào.

Yes, of course. You can take photos here.

Portrait of Anna in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

可是這裡不能錄影，請不要開閃光燈。

Kěshì zhèlǐ bùnéng lùyǐng, qǐng bùyào kāi shǎnguāngdēng.

But you can’t record video here, and please don’t use flash.

Portrait of David in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

David

好，這樣可以嗎？

Hǎo, zhèyàng kěyǐ ma?

Okay, is this allowed?

Portrait of Anna in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

這樣可以

Zhèyàng kěyǐ.

That’s okay.

Portrait of David in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

David

謝謝！那我可以問誰？

Xièxie! Nà wǒ kěyǐ wèn shéi?

Thanks! Then who can I ask?

Portrait of Anna in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

你可以問櫃台的工作人員。

Nǐ kěyǐ wèn guìtái de gōngzuò rényuán.

You can ask the staff at the counter.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

How do you ask, “Do I need permission to take photos?”

A sign says no eating here. Which phrase fits?

You want to politely ask someone not to smoke. What do you say?

Someone asks, “Can I sit here?” Give friendly permission.

Please don’t take photos.

這裡是博物館展區，請不要 ___。

You can sit here.

這個位子沒有人，你可以在這裡 ___。

Do I need permission to go in?

老師在裡面，門關著；要 ___ 需要先取得同意嗎？

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:

要___需要先取得同意嗎？

Yào ___ xūyào xiān qǔdé tóngyì ma?

Do I need permission to ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

我可以問誰

Wǒ kěyǐ wèn shéi?

Who can I ask?

Say this phrase out loud:

你可以在這裡___。

Nǐ kěyǐ zài zhèlǐ ___.

You can ___ here.

Say this phrase out loud:

這裡不能___。

Zhèlǐ bùnéng ___.

You can't ___ here.

Say this phrase out loud:

這樣可以

Zhèyàng kěyǐ.

It's allowed.

Say this phrase out loud:

這樣不行

Zhèyàng bùxíng.

It's not allowed.

Say this phrase out loud:

請不要___

Qǐng bùyào ___.

Please don't ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

可以，當然可以。

Kěyǐ, dāngrán kěyǐ.

Yes, of course.