〜てもいい
N5te mo ii
may; it's okay to
Formation
Verb-te + もいい
Chinese meanings
可以做……
Chinese formation
动词て形+もいい
Chinese usage
表示允许做某事,或用问句请求许可。
Chinese notes
加ですか可询问是否允许。
Examples
- この辞書を使ってもいいですか。May I use this dictionary?我可以使用这本词典吗?
- 今日は早く帰ってもいいです。You may go home early today.今天你可以早点回家。
- ここにすわってもいいですか。Is it all right if I sit here?我可以坐在这里吗?
Notes
Add ですか to ask for permission. A polite refusal is often just すみません、ちょっと….
#permission
Related N5 grammar
Use this entry in code
import { getGrammarById } from 'kotowa';
getGrammarById('te-mo-ii');
{
"id": "te-mo-ii",
"pattern": "〜てもいい",
"romaji": "te mo ii",
"level": "N5",
"meaning": "may; it's okay to",
"formation": "Verb-te + もいい",
"examples": [
{
"ja": "この辞書を使ってもいいですか。",
"furigana": "この{辞書|じしょ}を{使|つか}ってもいいですか。",
"en": "May I use this dictionary?"
},
{
"ja": "今日は早く帰ってもいいです。",
"furigana": "{今日|きょう}は{早|はや}く{帰|かえ}ってもいいです。",
"en": "You may go home early today."
},
{
"ja": "ここにすわってもいいですか。",
"en": "Is it all right if I sit here?"
}
],
"tags": [
"permission"
],
"notes": "Add ですか to ask for permission. A polite refusal is often just すみません、ちょっと….",
"zh": {
"status": "reviewed",
"source_hash": "75871b8f7e4a654445d15f239fba437432be34a2fd07d6733b23f3cbb3f578a0",
"meanings": [
"可以做……"
],
"formation": "动词て形+もいい",
"explanation": "表示允许做某事,或用问句请求许可。",
"notes": "加ですか可询问是否允许。",
"examples": [
{
"ja": "この辞書を使ってもいいですか。",
"zh": "我可以使用这本词典吗?"
},
{
"ja": "今日は早く帰ってもいいです。",
"zh": "今天你可以早点回家。"
},
{
"ja": "ここにすわってもいいですか。",
"zh": "我可以坐在这里吗?"
}
],
"references": [
"sources/grammar/n5.json#te-mo-ii",
"Original Chinese authored and reviewed by Codex; no independent human review"
],
"reviewer": "Codex",
"review_method": "ai",
"reviewed_at": "2026-10-28",
"review_hash": "ec8ac5cba91a26da2d634fbf12483863752726bff11c754e431c66403a27a04a"
}
}