Let’s explore the common expressions and their uses in sentences for ‘May I’ in Chinese.
可以 (kěyǐ)
可以……吗？ (kěyǐ …… ma?)
This is the most common and straightforward way to ask “may I” in Chinese. It literally means “can” or “may.”
e.g.
我可以进去吗？ (Wǒ kěyǐ jìnqù ma?) May I go in?
我可以用你的电话吗？ (Wǒ kěyǐ yòng nǐ de diànhuà ma?) May I use your phone?
我可以坐在这里吗？ (Wǒ kěyǐ zuò zài zhèlǐ ma?) May I sit here?
可以吗? (kěyǐ ma?)
This is a polite way to ask “may I,” often used to soften the request. It’s always put at the end of a statement.
e.g.
我看一下这本书，可以吗？ (Wǒ kàn yīxià zhè běn shū, kěyǐma?) May I look at this book?
我和你一起去，可以吗？ (Wǒ hé nǐ yīqǐ qù, kěyǐma?) May I go with you?
我打开窗户，可以吗？ (Wǒ dǎkāi chuānghù, kěyǐma?) May I open the window?
可不可以 (kě bù kěyǐ)
This is a common and polite way to ask “may I” or “can I” in Chinese. It is often used to make requests or ask for permission in a friendly manner.
e.g.
我可不可以用你的手机？ (Wǒ kě bù kěyǐ yòng nǐ de shǒujī?) May I use your phone?
我们可不可以换个地方？ (Wǒmen kě bù kěyǐ huàn gè dìfāng?) Can we change the location?
你可不可以帮我个忙？ (Nǐ kě bù kěyǐ bāng wǒ gè máng?) Could you help me with something?
是否可以 (shìfǒu kěyǐ)
This is a formal way to ask “may I,” often used in written communication or formal situations.
e.g.
我是否可以进来？ (Wǒ shìfǒu kěyǐ jìnlái?) May I come in?
是否可以请你帮个忙？ (Shìfǒu kěyǐ qǐng nǐ bāng gè máng?) May I ask you for a favor?
是否可以借用您的电话？ (Shìfǒu kěyǐ jièyòng nín de diànhuà?) May I borrow your phone?
能 (néng)
能……吗？(néng……ma?)
This phrase also means “may I” or “can I,” and is used to ask for permission or ability.
e.g.
我能问你一个问题吗？ (Wǒ néng wèn nǐ yīgè wèntí ma?) May I ask you a question?
我能借你的笔吗？ (Wǒ néng jiè nǐ de bǐ ma?) May I borrow your pen?
我能尝一下这个吗？ (Wǒ néng cháng yīxià zhège ma?) May I taste this?
能不能 (néng bù néng)
This phrase literally means “can or can’t” and is used to ask for permission in a slightly more tentative way.
e.g.
我能不能用一下你的电脑？ (Wǒ néng bù néng yòng yīxià nǐ de diànnǎo?) May I use your computer?
我能不能坐在这里？ (Wǒ néng bù néng zuò zài zhèlǐ?) May I sit here?
我能不能试试这件衣服？ (Wǒ néng bù néng shì shì zhè jiàn yīfú?) May I try on this clothing?
行 (xíng)
行吗 (xíng ma)
This is a casual way to ask “is it okay if” or “may I,” often used in everyday conversation.
e.g.
我们早点走，行吗？ (Wǒmen zǎodiǎn zǒu, xíng ma?) May we leave a bit earlier?
我用一下你的笔，行吗？ (Wǒ yòng yīxià nǐ de bǐ, xíng ma?) May I use your pen?
我坐在这里，行吗？ (Wǒ zuò zài zhèlǐ, xíng ma?) May I sit here?
行不行 (xíng bù xíng)
This phrase is a more casual way to ask “is it okay” or “is it possible” in Chinese. It can also be used to check if something is acceptable or feasible.
e.g.
我晚上八点来接你，行不行？ (Wǒ wǎnshàng bā diǎn lái jiē nǐ, xíng bù xíng?) I’ll pick you up at 8 PM, is that okay?
我们现在走，行不行？ (Wǒmen xiànzài zǒu, xíng bù xíng?) Shall we leave now, is that okay?
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