Expressing permission with "keyi"

可以 (kěyǐ) is an auxiliary verb primarily used for expressing permission. It's often translated as "can," but in order to not get it confused with other words, it's best to think of it as "may" to emphasize the permission aspect.

Basic Usage

Just put 可以 (kěyǐ) in directly before a verb to create a meaning of "may" (plus the verb). It's the same structure whether it's a statement or a question.

Structure

Subj. + 可以 + Verb + Obj.

Use this structure to express permission to do things.

Examples

• 我 可以 进来 吗？Wǒ kěyǐ jìnlái ma?May I come in?
• 二十 一 岁 以后 可以 喝 酒。Èrshí yī suì suì yǐhòu kěyǐ hējiǔ.After you are 21 years old you may drink alcohol.
• 妈妈，我 可以 出去 玩 吗？Māmā, wǒ kěyǐ chūqù wán ma?Mom, may I go out and have fun?
• 我们 可以 在 办公室 吃饭 吗？Wǒmen kěyǐzài bàngōngshì chīfàn ma?Can we eat in the office?
• 我 可以 在 这里 停车 吗？ Wǒ kěyǐ zài zhèlǐ tíngchē ma?Can I park here?

Negating 可以 sentences

可以 (kěyǐ) sentences are negated with 不 (bù), which is inserted before 可以 (kěyǐ).

Structure

Subj. + 不 + 可以 + Verb + Obj.

Examples

• 你 不 可以 告诉 他。Nǐ bù kěyǐ gàosu tā. You can't tell him.
• 小孩子 不 可以 看 这 个。Xiǎo háizi bù kěyǐ kàn zhè ge.Young children can't watch this.
• 他 不 可以 跟 我们 来。Tā bù kěyǐ gēn wǒmen lái.He can't come with us.
• 现在 你 不 可以 进来。Xiànzài nǐ bù kěyǐ jìnlái.You can't come in right now.
• 你 不 可以 迟到。Nǐ bù kěyǐ chídào.You can't be late.
• 十 八 岁 以前 不 可以 喝 酒。Shíbā suì yǐqián bù kěyǐ hējiǔ.Before you are 18 you can't drink alcohol.
• 我 不 可以 要 两 个 吗？Wǒ bù kěyǐ yào liǎng gè ma?Can't I have two?
• 妈妈，我 不 可以 出去 玩 吗？Māmā, wǒ bù kěyǐ chūqù wán ma?Mom, can't I go out and have fun?
• 现在 不 可以 吃 饭 吗？Xiànzài bù kěyǐ chīfàn ma?Can't I eat now?
• 这里 不 可以 说话 吗？Zhèlǐ bù kěyǐ shuōhuà ma?Can't I talk here?

See also

• Expressing ability or possibility
• Comparing "hui" "neng" "keyi"
• Expressing a learned skill with "hui"

Sources and further reading

• New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1) (pp. 160-1) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed) (pp. 185-7) →buy
• A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法) (p. 44) →buy