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

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* 你 <em>可以</em> 告诉 他。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>kěyǐ</em> gàosu tā.</span><span class="trans">You can tell him.</span>
 
* 我 <em>可以</em> 看 这 个 吗?<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>kěyǐ</em> kàn zhè ge ma?</span><span class="trans">May I see this?</span>
 
* 他 <em>可以</em> 跟 我们 来。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>kěyǐ</em> gēn wǒmen lái.</span><span class="trans">He can come with us.</span>
 
 
* 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>
 
* 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>
* 你 <em>可以</em> 十 点 来 吗?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>kěyǐ</em> shí diǎn lái ma?</span><span class="trans">Can you come at 10 o'clock?</span>
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* 二十 一 岁 以后 <em>可以</em> 喝 酒。<span class="pinyin">Èrshí yī suì suì yǐhòu <em>kěyǐ</em> hējiǔ.</span><span class="trans">After you are 21 years old you may drink alcohol.</span>
* 十 八 岁 以后 <em>可以</em> 喝 酒。<span class="pinyin">Shíbā suì yǐhòu <em>kěyǐ</em> hējiǔ.</span><span class="trans">After you are 18 years old you may drink alcohol.</span>
 
 
* 我 <em>可以</em> 要 两 个 吗?<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>kěyǐ</em> yào liǎng gè ma?</span><span class="trans">Can I have two?</span>
 
* 我 <em>可以</em> 要 两 个 吗?<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>kěyǐ</em> yào liǎng gè ma?</span><span class="trans">Can I have two?</span>
 
* 妈妈,我 <em>可以</em> 出去 玩 吗?<span class="pinyin">Māmā, wǒ <em>kěyǐ</em> chūqù wán ma?</span><span class="trans">Mom, may I go out and have fun?</span>
 
* 妈妈,我 <em>可以</em> 出去 玩 吗?<span class="pinyin">Māmā, wǒ <em>kěyǐ</em> chūqù wán ma?</span><span class="trans">Mom, may I go out and have fun?</span>
* 现在 <em>可以</em> 吃 饭 吗?<span class="pinyin">Xiànzài <em>kěyǐ</em> chīfàn ma?</span><span class="trans">Can we eat now?</span>
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* 我们 <em>可以</em> 在 办公室 吃饭 吗?<span class="pinyin">Xiànzài <em>kěyǐ</em>zài bàngōngshì chīfàn ma?</span><span class="trans">Can we eat in the office?</span>
* 这里 <em>可以</em> 说话 吗?<span class="pinyin">Zhèlǐ <em>kěyǐ</em> shuōhuà ma?</span><span class="trans">Can I speak here?</span>
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* 你 不 <em>可以</em> 在 这里 停车。<span class="pinyin"><em>kěyǐ</em> zài zhèlǐ tíngchē.</span><span class="trans">You can't park here.</span>
  
 
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Revision as of 09:19, 18 September 2015

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

  • 可以 进来 吗?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.
  • 可以 要 两 个 吗?kěyǐ yào liǎng gè ma?Can I have two?
  • 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?Xiànzài kěyǐzài bàngōngshì chīfàn ma?Can we eat in the office?
  • 你 不 可以 在 这里 停车。kěyǐ zài zhèlǐ tíngchē.You can't 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

  • 不 可以 告诉 他。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.
  • 不 可以 跟 我们 来。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.
  • 不 可以 迟到。 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.
  • 不 可以 要 两 个 吗?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

Sources and further reading