〜てもいいです

In this lesson, we will learn the expression 〜てもいいです, which is used for permissions in Japanese. It consists of the 〜て-form of verbs, the particle も, and the adjective いい. Altogether, it forms the expression 'may I do something?'

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You will often hear this expression in a question form; 〜てもいいですか？

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This expression is not limited to verbs; it can be used with adjectives and nouns as well.

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Verb (て-form) + もいい + です

Adjective い + て + もいい + です

Adjective な + で + もいい + です

Noun + で + もいい + です

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トイレにいってもいいですか？

Toire ni itte mo ii desu ka?

May I go to the bathroom?

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テレビをみてもいいですか？

Terebi o mite mo ii desu ka?

May I watch the TV?

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Think of this expression as 'may I', since 'can I' in this context does not work in Japanese. The potential verbs (can, could) in Japanese do not work to ask for permission. 〜てもいいです is the only expression.

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はいってもいいですか？

Haitte mo ii desu ka?

Can I come in?

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日本ではタバコをすってもいいのは20さいからです。

Nihon de wa tabako o sutte mo ii no wa 20 sai kara desu.

In Japan, smoking cigarettes is allowed from 20 years old.

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To respond in the affirmative, you can use these expressions:

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はい、どうぞ。

Hai, douzo.

Yes, please (do).

はい、いいです。

Hai, ii desu.

Yes, it is okay.

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To respond in the negative, we might use these:

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いいえ、はいってはいけません。

Iie, haitte wa ikemasen.

No, you may not come in.

いいえ、はいらないでください。

Iie, hairanaide kudasai.

No, please do not come in.

あの、ちょっと。。。

Ano, chotto...

Umm, sorry, not possible.

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Confidential form

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Amongst friends and family, 〜てもいいです might be shortened to 〜ていい. The particles も and か, and the verb です will be omitted.

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でんわをつかっていい？

Denwa o tsukatte ii?

Can I use the phone?

プレゼントをあけていい？

Purezento o akete ii?

Can I open my present?

この本をよんでいい？

Kono hon o yonde ii?

Can I read this book?

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さくらってよんでいい？

Sakura tte yonde ii?

Can I call you 'Sakura'?

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って acts as quotation marks in Japanese. It is like 'can I call you "Sakura"?' You will see it often with the verbs よぶ (to call) and いう (to say). って is casual; to be more polite, we will use と.

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With adjectives and nouns

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With adjectives and nouns, the meaning of 〜もいいです will be 'is it okay' or 'are you okay with' more than asking a permission.

 

 お水でもいですか？

Omizu de mo ii desu ka?

Is water okay?

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むずかしくてもいいですか？

Muzukashikute mo ii desu ka?

Are you okay with this even if it is difficult?

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あしたは本をかえせないなら、らいしゅうでもいいです。

Ashita wa hon o kaesenai nara, raishuu de mo ii desu.

If you can't return the book tomorrow, you can do it next week.

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アパートは、やちんがやすければ、せまくてもいいです。

Appato wa, yachin ga yasukereba, semakute mo ii desu.

For the appartment, if the rent is low, even small is fine.

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