Ermission or The Acceptability of an Action: てもいいです
The phrase てもいいです (te mo ii desu) is a fundamental expression in Japanese that conveys permission or the acceptability of an action. It's a versatile structure that allows you to ask for or grant permission, making it an essential part of everyday conversation.
Structure of てもいいです
To form sentences using てもいいです, follow this structure:
Verb in て form + もいいです
This structure is used to ask if something is permissible or to state that it is okay to do something.
いって も いい です。 - You can go. / May I go?
Asking for Permission
When you want to ask for permission to do something, you use the structure above. It's a polite and indirect way to inquire if you may proceed with an action.
みて も いい です か。 - May I watch?
つかって も いい です か。 - May I use it?
Granting Permission
You can also use てもいいです to give someone permission to do something. In this case, it often translates to "You may..." or "It's okay to...".
すわって も いい です よ。 - You may sit down.
もって いって も いい です。 - You may take it.
Negative Form: てはだめです / てはいけません
The negative form of this structure expresses prohibition, meaning something is not allowed. The common ways to say this are てはだめです (te wa dame desu) or てはいけません (te wa ikemasen), both translating to "You must not..." or "It's not allowed to...".
たべて は だめ です。 - You must not eat.
すわって は いけません。 - You must not sit.
Politeness and Formality
The phrase てもいいです is polite and can be made even more formal by using てもよろしいです (te mo yoroshii desu), although this is less common in everyday conversation. For more casual settings, てもいい (te mo ii) without です is sufficient.
いって も いい です。 - You can go.
いって も いい。 - You can go. (Casual)
いって も よろしい です。 - You may go. (Formal)
Related Structures and Variations
- てもいいですか (te mo ii desu ka): Used to ask if it's okay to do something.
- てもいいですよ (te mo ii desu yo): Used to grant permission, often with a soft, reassuring tone.
- てもかまいません (te mo kamai masen): A more formal way of saying "It's okay" or "I don't mind."
These variations allow you to adjust the level of formality and politeness in your conversation, depending on the context and the person you're speaking with.
Common Usage in Daily Life
The phrase てもいいです is commonly used in various situations, such as asking for permission in public places, at work, or in casual conversations with friends. It's a useful phrase to master for anyone learning Japanese, as it helps in navigating social interactions politely and respectfully.
この ざっし よんで も いい です か。 - May I read this magazine?
Usage Structure Examples Asking Permission Verb て form + もいいですか いって も いい です か。 Granting Permission Verb て form + もいいです みて も いい です。 Prohibition Verb て form + はだめです すわって は だめ です。
The structure てもいいです is an integral part of Japanese communication, offering a way to ask for and give permission in a polite manner. By understanding and practicing this phrase, learners can improve their conversational skills and navigate social situations with ease.
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The phrase てもいいです (te mo ii desu) is a fundamental expression in Japanese that conveys permission or the acceptability of an action. It's a versatile structure that allows you to ask for or grant permission, making it an essential part of everyday conversation.
Structure of てもいいです
To form sentences using てもいいです, follow this structure:
Verb in て form + もいいです
This structure is used to ask if something is permissible or to state that it is okay to do something.
いって も いい です。 - You can go. / May I go?
Asking for Permission
When you want to ask for permission to do something, you use the structure above. It's a polite and indirect way to inquire if you may proceed with an action.
みて も いい です か。 - May I watch?
つかって も いい です か。 - May I use it?
Granting Permission
You can also use てもいいです to give someone permission to do something. In this case, it often translates to "You may..." or "It's okay to...".
すわって も いい です よ。 - You may sit down.
もって いって も いい です。 - You may take it.
Negative Form: てはだめです / てはいけません
The negative form of this structure expresses prohibition, meaning something is not allowed. The common ways to say this are てはだめです (te wa dame desu) or てはいけません (te wa ikemasen), both translating to "You must not..." or "It's not allowed to...".
たべて は だめ です。 - You must not eat.
すわって は いけません。 - You must not sit.
Politeness and Formality
The phrase てもいいです is polite and can be made even more formal by using てもよろしいです (te mo yoroshii desu), although this is less common in everyday conversation. For more casual settings, てもいい (te mo ii) without です is sufficient.
いって も いい です。 - You can go.
いって も いい。 - You can go. (Casual)
いって も よろしい です。 - You may go. (Formal)
Related Structures and Variations
- てもいいですか (te mo ii desu ka): Used to ask if it's okay to do something.
- てもいいですよ (te mo ii desu yo): Used to grant permission, often with a soft, reassuring tone.
- てもかまいません (te mo kamai masen): A more formal way of saying "It's okay" or "I don't mind."
These variations allow you to adjust the level of formality and politeness in your conversation, depending on the context and the person you're speaking with.
Common Usage in Daily Life
The phrase てもいいです is commonly used in various situations, such as asking for permission in public places, at work, or in casual conversations with friends. It's a useful phrase to master for anyone learning Japanese, as it helps in navigating social interactions politely and respectfully.
この ざっし よんで も いい です か。 - May I read this magazine?
| Usage | Structure | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Asking Permission | Verb て form + もいいですか | いって も いい です か。 |
| Granting Permission | Verb て form + もいいです | みて も いい です。 |
| Prohibition | Verb て form + はだめです | すわって は だめ です。 |
The structure てもいいです is an integral part of Japanese communication, offering a way to ask for and give permission in a polite manner. By understanding and practicing this phrase, learners can improve their conversational skills and navigate social situations with ease.