Which one should you use?
The phrase 入ってもいい？ is an informal version, while 入っていい？ is a very casual or slangy way to ask the same thing. For much higher levels of politeness, such as in a business setting or when speaking to a superior, you can use 入ってもよろしいでしょうか？
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For friends or family, you can use the informal 入ってもいい？ The most formal version is 入ってもよろしいでしょうか？, which is suitable for professional environments. On the other end of the spectrum, 入っていい？ is very casual or slangy.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase is constructed using the te-form of a verb followed by もいいですか？ to express seeking permission for an action.
How do you pronounce it?
haitte mo ii desu ka?
When do people say it?
When someone asks to enter, a common way to grant permission is to say はい、どうぞ (Yes, please). If you need to politely decline someone's entry, it is common to say すみません、今ちょっと… (I'm sorry, right now is a bit…), trailing off to imply that you are currently busy.
Did you know?
- When entering a room after being granted permission, it is customary to say 失礼します (shitsurei shimasu), which literally means 'I am going to be rude'.
- If you are entering a room where someone is sleeping or working, you might use お邪魔します (ojama shimasu), which means 'I am going to be an interruption'.
- The verb in the phrase, 入る (hairu), is used for both entering a room and joining a club or a group, such as a sports team or a social circle.
Examples in context
- 入ってもいいですか？Haitte mo ii desu ka?May I come in?
- 会議室に入ってもいいですか？Kaigishitsu ni haitte mo ii desu ka?May I enter the meeting room?
- 今、入ってもいいですか？Ima, haitte mo ii desu ka?May I come in now?
Example conversation
Hiyori is visiting Yota's room.
- 陽太 Yota陽葵ちゃん、こんにちは。Hiyori-chan, konnichiwa.Hello, Hiyori.
- 陽葵 Himariこんにちは。入ってもいいですか？konnichiwa. haitte mo ii desu ka?Hello. May I come in?
- 陽太 Yotaもちろん、どうぞ！mochiron, douzo!Of course, please come in!
- 陽葵 Himariありがとうございます。arigatou gozaimasu.Thank you very much.
