Difference between revisions of "Expressing permission with "keyi""

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Permission is expressed with the verb 可以. It might be helpful to think of 可以 as meaning "may". This will help to keep it's function and usage clear. The structure is:
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{{Grammar Box}}
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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.
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== Basic Usage ==
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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.
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=== Structure ===
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
  
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Subject + 可以 + Verb + Object
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Subj. + 可以 + Verb + Obj.
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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Use this structure to express permission to do things. Some examples:
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Use this structure to express permission to do things.
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=== Examples ===
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
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* 你可以坐在这儿。
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* 我 <em>可以</em> 进来 吗？<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>kěyǐ</em> jìnlái ma?</span><span class="trans">May I come in?</span>
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* 我可以看这个吗？
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* 二十 一 岁 以后 <em>可以</em> 喝酒。<span class="pinyin">Èrshí-yī suì yǐhòu <em>kěyǐ</em> hējiǔ.</span><span class="trans">After you are 21 years old, you may drink alcohol.</span>
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* 他可以跟我们来。
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* 妈妈，我 <em>可以</em> 出去 玩 吗？<span class="pinyin">Māma, wǒ <em>kěyǐ</em> chūqù wán ma?</span><span class="trans">Mom, may I go out and play?</span>
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* 我们 <em>可以</em> 在 办公室 吃饭 吗？<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>kěyǐ</em> zài bàngōngshì chīfàn ma?</span><span class="trans">Can we eat in the office?</span>
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* 我 <em>可以</em> 在 这里 停车 吗？<span class="pinyin"> Wǒ <em>kěyǐ</em> zài zhèlǐ tíngchē ma?</span><span class="trans">Can I park here?</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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== Negating 可以 (kěyǐ) Sentences ==
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可以 (kěyǐ) sentences are [[Standard negation with "bu"|negated with 不 (bù)]], which is inserted before 可以 (kěyǐ).
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=== Structure ===
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<div class="jiegou">
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Subj. + 不 + 可以 + Verb + Obj.
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</div>
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=== Examples ===
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<div class="liju">
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* 孩子 <em>不 可以</em> 看 这 个。<span class="pinyin">Háizi <em>bù kěyǐ</em> kàn zhège.</span><span class="trans">Children can't watch this.</span>
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* 你 现在 <em>不 可以</em> 进去。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ xiànzài <em>bù kěyǐ</em> jìnqù.</span><span class="trans">You can't go in right now.</span>
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* 这里 <em>不 可以</em>抽烟。<span class="pinyin">Zhèlǐ  <em>bù kěyǐ</em> chōuyān.</span><span class="trans">You can't smoke here.</span>
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* 我们 都 <em>不 可以</em> 去 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen dōu <em>bù kěyǐ</em> qù.</span><span class="trans">None of us may go.</span>
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* 你 <em> 不 可以</em> 说 脏话。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em> bù kěyǐ</em> shuō zānghuà.</span><span class="trans">You can't say swear words.</span>
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</div>
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==See also==
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*[[Expressing ability or possibility with "neng"]]
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*[[Comparing "hui" "neng" "keyi"]]
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*[[Expressing a learned skill with "hui"]]
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== Sources and further reading ==
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 2|34}}
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{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)|160-1}}
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{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed)|185-7}}
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{{Source|A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法)|44}}
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[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
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{{HSK|HSK2}}{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}
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{{Used for|Expressing ability}}
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{{Used for|Requesting}}
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{{Basic Grammar|可以|A1|可以 + Verb|这里 <em>可以</em> 吸烟 吗?|grammar point|ASG6SPYK}}
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{{Rel char|可}}
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{{Similar|Expressing ability or possibility}}
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{{Similar|Hui, keyi and neng}}
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{{Similar|Expressing a learned skill}}
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{{POS|Verbs}}
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{{Subprop|Auxiliary verbs}}
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{{Translation|Can}}
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{{Translation|May}}

Latest revision as of 08:54, 21 April 2021

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 yǐhòu kěyǐ hējiǔ.After you are 21 years old, you may drink alcohol.
  • 妈妈，我 可以 出去 玩 吗？Māma, wǒ kěyǐ chūqù wán ma?Mom, may I go out and play?
  • 我们 可以 在 办公室 吃饭 吗？Wǒmen kěyǐ zài 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 (kěyǐ) 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

  • 孩子 不 可以 看 这 个。Háizi bù kěyǐ kàn zhège.Children can't watch this.
  • 你 现在 不 可以 进去。Nǐ xiànzài bù kěyǐ jìnqù.You can't go in right now.
  • 这里 不 可以抽烟。Zhèlǐ bù kěyǐ chōuyān.You can't smoke here.
  • 我们 都 不 可以 去 。Wǒmen dōu bù kěyǐ qù.None of us may go.
  • 你 不 可以 说 脏话。Nǐ bù kěyǐ shuō zānghuà.You can't say swear words.

See also

Sources and further reading

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