Introduction
In this post, we will learn how to use the -てもいいです (- te mo iidesu) form to ask for and grant permission in Japanese. This form is essential for polite interactions, allowing you to ask if you may do something or let others know they have permission.
What It Means
The -てもいいです (- te mo iidesu) form means “you may do…” and describes an activity that is permitted. To ask for permission, you can turn it into a question by saying -てもいいですか (-te mo iidesu ka).
When You Use It
Use -てもいいです (- te mo iidesu) to tell someone they have permission to do something. To ask for permission, use -てもいいですか (- te mo iidesu ka). If someone asks you for permission and you want to grant it, you can repeat the whole phrase or simply say いいです (iidesu). A polite way to grant permission is to say どうぞ (douzo).
Examples
教科書を見てもいいですよ。(Kyoukasho o mite mo iidesu yo.) – You may use the textbook.
トイレに行ってもいいですか。(Toire ni itte mo iidesu ka.) – May I go to the bathroom?
はい、いいですよ。/ どうぞ。(Hai, iidesu yo. / Douzo.) – Yes, you may. / Please.
Note
- て needs to be part of a verb and cannot stand alone. You cannot say てもいいです or もいいです.
- In casual speech, you can drop も (mo) and say 食べていいです (tabete iidesu) instead of 食べてもいいです (tabete mo iidesu). However, in the construction -てはいけません (- te wa ikemasen), which means “you must not do…,” は (wa) cannot be dropped.
- -てはいけません is used to say “no” to questions like トイレに行ってもいいですか (Toire ni itte mo iidesu ka): “May I go to the bathroom?” The reply would be いいえ、行ってはいけません (Iie, itte wa ikemasen): “No, you may not.” We will explain てはいけません (- te wa ikemasen) in the next post.
Conclusion
Using -てもいいです (- te mo iidesu) is a polite and effective way to ask for and grant permission in Japanese.
