"May I?", "you can" and "you don't have to"
てもいい says it is fine to do something: as a question it asks permission, as a statement it gives it. With a negative verb it becomes なくてもいい, "you don't have to". These two are the ones to start with. Several of the other forms belong to careful or official talk, so the choice depends on who is talking to whom.
| Form | What it says | Where |
|---|---|---|
| てもいい | "May I?" and "you may" | Everyday |
| てはいけない | "Must not": a rule | Everyday |
| なくてもいい | "Don't have to" | Everyday |
| てもかまわない, なくてもかまわない | "I don't mind if you do", or "if you don't" | Service counters, offices, instructions; careful polite talk |
| させてください | "Please let me" | Everyday polite speech |
| させてもらう, させていただく | "They let me", taken as a favor | Everyday; させていただく in shops and offices |
| ても差し支えない | The official "you may" | Notices, forms, business email |
てもいい: asking and giving permission
Full pageてもいいN5
Asking: てもいいですか
May I take pictures here?
Can I eat this?
In conversation てもいいですか is often ていい？, without the も.
May I sit here?
よろしい is a more careful いい, for a customer, a boss or a stranger.
I don't have a ballpoint pen. Is a pencil all right?
After a noun, でもいいですか asks whether that would do.
Saying yes and saying no
Full pageてはいけない・
A yes is short: どうぞ, which is right to anyone, or いいですよ.
May I copy this document?
Yes, go ahead.
May I use this dictionary?
Yes, that's fine.
A no is rarely a flat いいえ. People say sorry and give a reason, or just trail off after ちょっと.
May I smoke here?
Sorry, here is a bit…
てはいけません states a rule, so as an answer it is a no from someone in charge: a teacher or a guard. So is a flat だめです. In conversation てはいけません is often ちゃだめ, which parents say to children and friends say to each other.
You must not take photos here.
Don't eat that yet.
Giving permission: てもいいです
てもいいです comes from a teacher, a parent or a host: whoever decides, or someone passing on a rule.
You may play after you finish your homework.
なくてもいい: you don't have to
Full pageなくてもいいN5
なくてもいい says it is fine not to do something. It takes a duty away, and it forbids nothing.
You don't have to take your shoes off here.
With よ it is often a kindness: no need to worry, no need to hurry. In conversation the も often drops, and 大丈夫 often takes the place of いい.
You don't need to worry about it.
You don't need to take an umbrella.
It also answers なければなりませんか with a no.
Do I have to come tomorrow too?
No, you don't have to.
てもいい, てはいけない or なくてもいい?
Word for word, the three say:
You may use a dictionary.
"Even if you use one, it's fine."
You must not use a dictionary.
"If you use one, it's no good."
You don't have to use a dictionary.
"Even if you don't use one, it's fine."
も comes before いい, and は before いけない.
Where it goes wrong
To a teacher or a boss, てもいいですよ sounds as if you were the one in charge.
to your teacher
Sounds odd: この
You may use this umbrella.
To offer it: どうぞ、使ってください.
なくてもいいですか asks whether it is fine not to do something, so if it is, the answer is はい. English more often asks "Do I have to fill this in?" and answers "No".
Is it okay not to fill in this field?
Yes, you can leave it blank.
"Could you…?", not "may I…?": the other person does it.
Excuse me, could you take a photo for me?
てもかまわない, なくてもかまわない: I don't mind
Full pageてもかまわない・
かまわない is "I don't mind". It goes where いい goes: after ても it lets someone do something, and after なくても it says there is no need. Friends mostly say てもいい.
I don't mind if you park here.
It is no trouble to me. A little stiffer and more distant.
You do not have to reply right now.
You don't have to come to the party. I don't mind.
Said about whether someone comes, it can sound as if you don't care.
As a question, てもかまいませんか is "do you mind if I…?", a polite way to ask a stranger. To a boss or a customer, てもよろしいですか is more careful.
Excuse me, do you mind if I sit here?
Not at all. Go ahead.
English answers "do you mind?" with a no. Japanese usually says yes.
させてください: please let me
Full pageさせてくださいN4
With させてください you want to do something, and you ask the other person to allow it.
May I use this room?
A question: you are checking that it is allowed.
Please let me use this room.
A request: you expect a yes.
I'm sorry, I have a fever, so please let me take today off.
For a real favor, people turn it into a question the other person can refuse: させていただけませんか.
Could I possibly take a day off next week?
させてもらう, させていただく: someone lets you
Full pageさせてもらう・
させてもらう says that someone let you do something, and that you take it as a favor. させていただく is the humble version, heard all day in shops and offices. させていただきます announces what you or your company will do, as if the other person had kindly agreed.
The salesclerk let me take a photo.
ても差し支えない: the official "you may"
Full pageても差し支えないN1
ても差し支えない is how a doctor, an office or a manual gives permission. 差し支え is a hindrance, so the words say nothing stands in the way.
The application may be submitted by mail.
Other kinds of "no need" and "can"
必要はないN4
"There is no need", stated as a fact, the way an office or a doctor puts it. Common in conversation too.
There is no need to hurry. The deadline is next week.
ことはないN3
"No need to", said to reassure: you tell someone they don't have to worry, apologize or hurry.
You're well prepared, so there's no need to worry so much.
には及ばないN1
A courteous "there is no need", in reply to an offer, to thanks or to worry.
No, that won't be necessary. I can manage by myself.
"Can" for what someone is able to do. A "can I…?" about what a shop or a place allows is this "can" too: it asks whether it can be done.
Can I pay by card?