〜てもいいですか
- 1Asking permission to do something yourself ("May I ~?").Ex. 1
- 2Checking whether an action is acceptable in a particular place or situation ("Is it okay if I ~ here?").Ex. 2
- 3Asking whether a third person may do something ("Is it all right if he/she/they ~?"), e.g. 子供がここで遊んでもいいですか.
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This is the standard polite way to ask permission with teachers, shop staff or acquaintances, while 〜てもいいでしょうか sounds softer with superiors or in very careful speech. Typical answers are はい、どうぞ or はい、いいですよ, and refusals are usually softened with すみません、ちょっと…. Unlike 〜てください, it asks whether an action is allowed rather than requesting one.
Do not use this to request an action from the listener; it asks whether something is permitted, whereas 〜てください makes a request.
Learners often form the て-form incorrectly; for example, 座る becomes 座って, not 座りて.
Note that answering with 〜てはいけません sounds strict, like stating a rule, so it can seem harsh as an everyday refusal.
- てもいいN5「てもいい」 is the plain form with the same conjugation; besides asking, it can state or grant permission, as in 「休んでもいいよ」. When asking a question it means the same as this pattern, and 「〜てもいい？」 is its casual question form.
- てはいけないN5「てはいけない」 expresses prohibition or that a condition is not allowed; it is a statement, not a question, and means the opposite of 「てもいい」. It takes the same て-form／くて／で conjugation and cannot be swapped in; answering a request with a blunt 「いけません」 sounds harsh.
- させてくださいN4「させてください」 uses the causative form to seek permission by request rather than question, with stronger volition; the one acting can also be someone on your side. 「考えさせてください」 is also commonly used to politely stall.
- ても差し支えないN1「ても差し支えない」 is mainly used to grant permission solemnly in a formal register. Only as 「ても差し支えないでしょうか」 is it equivalent to 「てもいいですか」, suiting business settings or superiors; both share the same conjugation.
- ないでくださいN5「〜てもいいですか」 asks whether you yourself may do something or whether a condition is acceptable, while 「ないでください」 politely asks the other person not to do something, as in reminders and notices. One asks permission, the other imposes a prohibition, so they cannot be swapped.
- てくださいN5「てください」 asks the other person to do something, whereas 「てもいいですか」 asks whether you yourself may do it — the actor differs, so they cannot be swapped. When asked 「てもいいですか」, you can reply 「どうぞ、〜てください」.
〜てもいいですか asks for permission, while てもいい grants or states it, てはいけない forbids, and ても差し支えない is a formal N1 equivalent. させてください phrases the wish as a request ("please let me ~") rather than a question, and it can sound humble or pressing depending on context. てください and ないでください ask the listener to do or not do something.
