いいですか？
ii desu ka?
In Japanese, "can I?" is expressed as いいですか？ (ii desu ka?)
The phrase is used as a polite way to ask for permission to do something. It is often used in the form ～てもいいですか to mean "Is it acceptable if I…?"
Which one should you use?
The polite form いいですか？ asks if something is okay. This is more polite than the casual version いい？
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
There are several ways to express this depending on the level of politeness: ～してもよろしいですか is a formal way to say "Can I?", ～してもいい？ is informal and ～してもいいかな is an informal way to express "Can I?" with a tentative or unsure tone. You can also use the very informal いい？ with friends or family by dropping the "desu ka".
How do you pronounce it?
ii desu ka?
When do people say it?
When asking for permission, a common positive response is はい、いいですよ (Yes, it is fine). If someone wishes to politely refuse your request, they often say すみません、ちょっと… (I'm sorry, a little…) and trail off.
Did you know?
- The phrase いい can mean both 'good' and 'sufficient'. Because of this, saying いいです in response to an offer can actually mean 'No thank you' rather than 'Yes'.
- In many social situations, if you ask いいですか？ and receive the response ちょっと… (chotto…), you have actually received a 'no'. The speaker is too polite to say 'no' directly, leaving the meaning hanging in the air.
- Using ～してもいいですか is common, but in professional environments, speakers often use ～させていただいてもよろしいでしょうか to express that they are receiving a favor by being allowed to act.
Examples in context
- すみません、トイレに行ってもいいですか？Excuse me, may I go to the restroom?
- この椅子に座ってもいいですか？Is it acceptable if I sit on this chair?
- お手洗いに行ってもよろしいですか？May I go to the restroom?
- この本をお借りしてもよろしいですか？Is it acceptable if I borrow this book?
- これを使ってもいい？Can I use this?
- ちょっとこれを試してもいいかな？Can I try this for a moment?
- この写真、撮ってもいいかな？Can I take this picture?
- ここ、座ってもいいですか？Koko, suwatte mo ii desu ka?Can I sit here?
- 写真を撮ってもいいですか？Shashin o totte mo ii desu ka?Can I take a photo?
- 窓を閉めてもいいですか？Mado o shimete mo ii desu ka?Can I close the window?
Example conversation
Misaki is at a cafe and wants to use a power outlet near Yota.
- 美咲 Misakiコンセントを使ってもいいですか？Konsento o tsukatte mo ii desu ka?Can I use the outlet?
- 陽太 Yotaはい、いいですよ。Hai, ii desu yo.Yes, that is fine.
- 美咲 Misakiありがとうございます。Arigatou gozaimasu.Thank you very much.
- 陽太 Yotaいいえ、どうぞ。Iie, douzo.No problem, go ahead.
