New here? This is lesson 30 of a free 240-lesson Traditional Chinese course.
What's allowed in Traditional Chinese
A-Li arrives at Banyan Breakfast with his raincoat and takes his usual two stools. A sign says coats cannot go on the stools, so Auntie Lin helps him find another place for it.
Learn to say what someone can and cannot do here, make a polite request, and decide whether an arrangement works. You will also ask permission and thank someone.
By the end of this lesson
Say what someone can or cannot do in a place and respond to an arrangement.
- 這裡不能___You can't ___ here.
- 你可以在這裡___You can ___ here.
- 請不要___Please don't ___.
- 可以，當然可以Yes, of course.
- 這樣可以This is fine.
- 這樣不行This won't do.
Scene — A coat and two stools
At Banyan Breakfast, A-Li has his usual two stools and an unfinished soy milk. He reaches for a stool with his raincoat, but a sign says coats do not go there.
Auntie Lin points to a clear spot on the floor instead. Maya watches as A-Li finds a place for his coat.
Learn — What you can do here
These six lines help you explain what is allowed in a particular place. For the lines with a blank, add the action you mean.
Listen to the short replies, too: one accepts an arrangement, while another rejects it.
這裡不能___
You can't ___ here.
When to use it: Use this to tell someone an action is not allowed here.
Learn it as one piece and add the action at the end.
你可以在這裡___
You can ___ here.
When to use it: Use this to show someone where an action is allowed.
Learn it as one piece and add the action at the end.
請不要___
Please don't ___.
When to use it: Use this to politely ask someone not to do something.
Learn it as one piece and add the action at the end.
Say it: The first syllable of 不要 rises before the falling tone.
可以，當然可以
Yes, of course.
When to use it: Use this to give someone an enthusiastic yes.
這樣可以
This is fine.
When to use it: Use this when an arrangement works.
這樣不行
This won't do.
When to use it: Use this when an arrangement does not work.
Story — A place for the raincoat
Listen as Auntie Lin stops A-Li from putting his raincoat on a stool. He tries another spot before finding a place on the floor.
Maya then asks whether she can take the open seat.
Auntie Lin阿犛，請不要放椅子上。A-Li, please don't put it on the stool.
A-Li我可以放這裡嗎？Can I put it here?- Auntie Lin這裡不能放外套。You can't put coats here.
- A-Li這樣不行。That won't do.
- Auntie Lin你可以在這裡放外套。You can put your coat here.
- A-Li這樣可以。This works.
Maya我可以坐這裡嗎？Can I sit here?- Auntie Lin可以，當然可以。Yes, of course.
- Maya謝謝。Thank you.
Practice — Allowed or not?
Use the shop situation to choose between permission, a restriction, and a polite request. Some exercises focus on a single word; others ask you to recognize a whole line.
Check each answer before moving on.
0 of 9 done
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
這裡不能___
Build the line
Build the line
Yes, of course.
，
Tap the words in order.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
This is fine.
這樣____
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Swap the word
Swap the word
A-Li has put his raincoat on a stool despite the sign. Say this arrangement won't do.
這樣____
What do you say?
What do you say?
Politely ask A-Li not to put his raincoat on a stool.
What do you say?
What do you say?
Ask Auntie Lin whether you may sit in an open seat.
Pick the reply
Auntie Lin says:
Pick the reply
可以，當然可以。
Yes, of course.
And you reply with:
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
Please don't ___.
請_______
Say it — Help A-Li find a place
Play Maya as A-Li looks for somewhere to put his raincoat. Auntie Lin has explained the shop's rule, and you help A-Li understand which spot works.
Listen to each person, then say your line aloud. Add the action described in the cue when a line has a blank.
- A-Li reaches toward a stool with his raincoat.
- Auntie Lin外套不要放椅子上喔。Don't put your coat on the stool.
- Maya (you)Politely ask A-Li not to put it on the stool.
Politely ask A-Li not to put it on the stool.
請不要___
Please don't ___.
0 of 5 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Traditional Chinese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| 這裡不能___ | You can't ___ here. | |
| 你可以在這裡___ | You can ___ here. | |
| 請不要___ | Please don't ___. | |
| 可以，當然可以 | Yes, of course. | |
| 這樣可以 | This is fine. | |
| 這樣不行 | This won't do. |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Review today's lines about what is allowed in Yak Cards.
Try the permission and restriction cards again before your next lesson.
Open Yak Cards