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

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<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
  
Subject + 可以 + Verb + Object
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Subj. + 可以 + Verb + Obj.
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 你 <em>可以</em> 告诉 他。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>kěyǐ</em> gàosù 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 gè 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 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>
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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>
* 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>
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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>
* 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>
+
* <em>可以</em> 在 这里 停车 吗?<span class="pinyin"> <em>kěyǐ</em> zài zhèlǐ tíngchē ma?</span><span class="trans">Can I park here?</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>
 
* 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>
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Negating 可以 sentences ==
+
== Negating 可以 (kěyǐ) Sentences ==
  
 
可以 (kěyǐ) sentences are [[Standard negation with "bu"|negated with 不 (bù)]], which is inserted before 可以 (kěyǐ).
 
可以 (kěyǐ) sentences are [[Standard negation with "bu"|negated with 不 (bù)]], which is inserted before 可以 (kěyǐ).
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<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
  
Subject + 不 + 可以 + Verb + Object
+
Subj. + 不 + 可以 + Verb + Obj.
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 你 <em>不 可以</em> 告诉 他。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>bù kěyǐ</em> gàosù tā.</span><span class="trans"> You can't tell him.</span>
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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>
* 小孩子 <em>不 可以</em> 看 这 个。<span class="pinyin">Xiǎo háizi <em>bù kěyǐ</em> kàn zhè gè.</span><span class="trans">Young children can't watch this.</span>
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* 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>
* 他 <em>不 可以</em> 跟 我们 来。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>bù kěyǐ</em> gēn wǒmen lái.</span><span class="trans">He can't come with us.</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>
* 现在 <em>不 可以</em> 进来。<span class="pinyin">Xiànzài nǐ <em>bù kěyǐ</em> jìnlái.</span><span class="trans">You can't come in right now.</span>
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* 我们 都 <em>不 可以</em> 去 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen dōu <em>bù kěyǐ</em> .</span><span class="trans">None of us may go.</span>
* <em> 不 可以</em> 迟到。<span class="pinyin"><em> bù kěyǐ</em> chídào.</span><span class="trans">You can't be late.</span>
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* <em> 不 可以</em> 说 脏话。<span class="pinyin"><em> bù kěyǐ</em> shuō zānghuà.</span><span class="trans">You can't say swear words.</span>
* 十 八 岁 以前 <em>不 可以</em> 喝 酒。<span class="pinyin">Shíbā suì yǐqián <em>bù kěyǐ</em> hējiǔ.</span><span class="trans">Before you are 18 you can't drink alcohol.</span>
 
* <em>不 可以</em> 要 两 个 吗?<span class="pinyin"><em>bù kěyǐ</em> yào liǎng gè ma?</span><span class="trans">Can't I have two?</span>
 
* 妈妈,我 <em>不 可以</em> 出去 玩 吗?<span class="pinyin">Māmā, wǒ <em>bù kěyǐ</em> chūqù wán ma?</span><span class="trans">Mom, can't I go out and have fun?</span>
 
* 现在 <em>不 可以</em> 吃 饭 吗?<span class="pinyin">Xiànzài <em>bù kěyǐ</em> chīfàn ma?</span><span class="trans">Can't I eat now?</span>
 
* 这里 <em>不 可以</em> 说话 吗?<span class="pinyin">Zhèlǐ <em>bù kěyǐ</em> shuōhuà ma?</span><span class="trans">Can't I talk here?</span>
 
 
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
  
*[[Expressing ability or possibility]]
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*[[Expressing ability or possibility with "neng"]]
 
*[[Comparing "hui" "neng" "keyi"]]
 
*[[Comparing "hui" "neng" "keyi"]]
 
*[[Expressing a learned skill with "hui"]]
 
*[[Expressing a learned skill with "hui"]]
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== Sources and further reading ==
 
== Sources and further reading ==
  
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)]] (pp. 160-1) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561910401/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561910401 →buy]
+
{{Source|HSK Standard Course 2|34}}
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed)]] (pp. 185-7) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561926235/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7561926235 →buy]
+
{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)|160-1}}
* [[A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法)]] (p. 44) [http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001J0ADWA&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001J0ADWA →buy]
+
{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed)|185-7}}
 +
{{Source|A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法)|44}}
  
 
[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
 +
{{HSK|HSK2}}{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing ability}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing ability}}
 
{{Used for|Requesting}}
 
{{Used for|Requesting}}
{{Basic Grammar|可以|A1|可以 + V|这里 <em>可以</em> 吸烟 吗?|grammar point|ASG6SPYK}}
+
{{Basic Grammar|可以|A1|可以 + Verb|这里 <em>可以</em> 吸烟 吗?|grammar point|ASG6SPYK}}
 
{{Rel char|可}}
 
{{Rel char|可}}
 
{{Similar|Expressing ability or possibility}}  
 
{{Similar|Expressing ability or possibility}}  

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

  • 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 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?
  • 可以 在 这里 停车 吗?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.
  • 不 可以 说 脏话。 bù kěyǐ shuō zānghuà.You can't say swear words.

See also

Sources and further reading