Translation guide
The English verb 'allow' covers permission, enabling, and tolerance. Japanese uses different constructions depending on who is allowing whom, the level of formality, and whether the focus is on giving permission, letting something happen, or making something possible.
Express that someone permits another person to do something.
A casual and very common way to give or ask for permission. Literally 'it's okay if you do ~'. Used in everyday conversation.
ここで写真を撮ってもいいですか。
Is it okay if I take a picture here?
You can go home now.
More formal than 〜てもいい. Implies 'I don't mind if you do ~'. Often used when granting permission politely.
お座りになっても構いません。
You may sit down.
Formal verb meaning 'to permit' or 'to authorize'. Used in official contexts, rules, or written documents.
上司が残業を許可した。
The boss allowed overtime work.
Can mean 'to allow' but often carries a nuance of 'to forgive' or 'to tolerate'. When used for permission, it sounds more like 'to permit something that is usually not allowed'.
母は私が夜遅く出かけるのを許してくれなかった。
My mother didn't allow me to go out late at night.
Express that someone does not prevent another person from doing something, or lets them do as they wish.
Causative form. Means 'to let/make someone do'. When used with あげる/くれる, it emphasizes doing a favor by allowing. Without those, it can imply forcing, so context matters.
子供を公園で遊ばせた。
I let the kids play in the park.
彼に行きたいところへ行かせてあげた。
I allowed him to go wherever he wanted.
Means 'to leave something as it is' or 'to let something be'. Used when you allow a state to continue without interference.
ドアを開けたままにしておいて。
Leave the door open. (Allow it to stay open.)
Formal term meaning 'to leave alone' or 'to let someone do as they please without supervision'. Often used in parenting or management contexts.
あの親は子供を放任しすぎだ。
Those parents allow their children too much freedom.
Express that a situation, tool, or condition enables an action or state.
Standard way to say 'can do' or 'is able to'. Often used when circumstances permit an action.
このアプリを使えば、簡単に予約することができる。
This app allows you to make reservations easily.
Formal expression meaning 'to make possible' or 'to enable'. Common in technical or business contexts.
新技術が遠隔操作を可能にした。
The new technology allowed remote control.
Literally 'give room/leeway for'. Used in abstract contexts like 'allow for interpretation' or 'allow for error'.
この規則は解釈の余地を与えている。
This rule allows room for interpretation.
Express acceptance of a fact, idea, or situation, often in phrases like 'I'll allow that...' or 'allow me to say'.
Means 'to admit' or 'to acknowledge'. Used when conceding a point.
彼の言い分も一理あると認めよう。
I'll allow that his argument has some merit.
Casual phrase meaning 'that may be so'. Used to concede a point in conversation.
まあ、そうかもしれないね。
Well, I'll allow that might be true.
Express that you are making provisions or leaving room for something.
Standard phrase meaning 'to take into account' or 'to allow for'.
遅れを考慮に入れて、早めに出発しよう。
Let's allow for delays and leave early.
Means 'to anticipate' or 'to allow for' future events. Often used in planning.
需要の増加を見越して在庫を増やした。
We increased stock to allow for rising demand.
〜てもいい focuses on permission ('it's okay if...'), while 〜させる focuses on the act of letting/making someone do something. Use 〜てもいい when asking or granting permission; use 〜させる when describing that you allowed an action to happen.
ここに座ってもいいですか。
May I sit here? (permission)
彼女を先に帰らせた。
I let her go home first. (action of allowing)
Directly translating 'allow' as 許す often sounds unnatural or overly dramatic. Reserve 許す for forgiveness or tolerating something normally unacceptable. For everyday permission, use 〜てもいい or causative forms.
✕ 先生が私にトイレに行くのを許した。
The teacher allowed me to go to the bathroom. (unnatural)
○ 先生がトイレに行ってもいいと言った。
The teacher said I could go to the bathroom. (natural)