{"id":50621,"date":"2026-11-02T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-11-01T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/himawari-edu.com\/?p=50621"},"modified":"2026-11-02T00:32:35","modified_gmt":"2026-11-01T16:32:35","slug":"asking-permission-te-mo-ii-desu-ka","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/himawari-edu.com\/en\/asking-permission-te-mo-ii-desu-ka\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Ask Permission in Japanese: Te Mo Ii Desu Ka"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<style>.hm-permission-lesson{max-width:850px;margin:auto;line-height:1.95;color:#333;font-size:18px;overflow-wrap:anywhere}.hm-permission-lesson h2{font-size:26px!important;font-weight:700!important}.hm-permission-lesson h3{font-size:21px!important;font-weight:700!important}.hm-permission-lesson h2,.hm-permission-lesson h3{width:auto!important;max-width:100%!important;white-space:normal!important;overflow-wrap:anywhere;line-height:1.5;margin:2em 0 .8em}.hm-permission-lesson p{margin:0 0 1.2em}.hm-permission-lesson blockquote,.hm-permission-lesson details{background:#fff8e9;border-left:4px solid #efaa36;padding:18px 22px;margin:20px 0;border-radius:8px}.hm-permission-lesson summary{cursor:pointer;font-weight:700}.hm-permission-lesson li{margin:.6em 0}.hm-permission-lesson a{overflow-wrap:anywhere}body.postid-50621 .entry-title,body.postid-50621 .pageHeader h1{width:auto!important;max-width:100%!important;white-space:normal!important;overflow-wrap:anywhere;line-height:1.5!important;font-size:clamp(26px,3vw,38px)!important;font-weight:700!important;margin:0 auto 18px!important;padding:0!important}body.postid-50621 .entry-header{max-width:850px;margin:40px auto;padding:0 20px}body.postid-50621 .entry-meta{font-size:14px;color:#666}@media(max-width:600px){.hm-permission-lesson{padding:0 18px}.hm-permission-lesson blockquote,.hm-permission-lesson details{padding:14px}.hm-permission-lesson h2{font-size:23px!important}}<\/style><div class=\"hm-permission-lesson\"><p>To ask \u201cMay I take a photo?\u201d in Japanese, say <strong>\u5199\u771f\u3092\u64ae\u3063\u3066\u3082\u3044\u3044\u3067\u3059\u304b<\/strong>. The pattern is <strong>verb in the te-form + \u3082\u3044\u3044\u3067\u3059\u304b<\/strong>. It asks whether you have permission to do something. This guide shows how to ask about photos, seats and drinks, then understand the reply.<\/p>\n<h2>1. Ask permission with \u3066\u3082\u3044\u3044\u3067\u3059\u304b<\/h2>\n<p>The question means \u201cIs it OK if I do this?\u201d Before taking a photo inside a shop, for example, ask a member of staff:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u3059\u307f\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3001\u5199\u771f\u3092\u64ae\u3063\u3066\u3082\u3044\u3044\u3067\u3059\u304b\u3002<br>\u3059\u307f\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3001\u3057\u3083\u3057\u3093\u3092 \u3068\u3063\u3066\u3082 \u3044\u3044\u3067\u3059\u304b\u3002<br><i>Sumimasen, shashin o totte mo ii desu ka.<\/i><br>Excuse me, may I take a photo?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>\u3059\u307f\u307e\u305b\u3093 helps you get someone&#8217;s attention politely. For more ways to start an exchange or check what someone said, see our <a href=\"https:\/\/himawari-edu.com\/en\/japanese-daily-conversation\/\">15 everyday Japanese phrases with examples<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>2. Start with four useful te-forms<\/h2>\n<p>The te-form is a form of a verb whose ending can be \u3066 or \u3067. You do not need to memorise every verb change at once. Begin with these four:<\/p>\n<ul><li>\u64ae\u308b\uff08\u3068\u308b, take a photo\uff09\u2192 \u64ae\u3063\u3066\uff08\u3068\u3063\u3066\uff09\u2192 \u64ae\u3063\u3066\u3082\u3044\u3044\u3067\u3059\u304b\u3002<\/li><li>\u5ea7\u308b\uff08\u3059\u308f\u308b, sit down\uff09\u2192 \u5ea7\u3063\u3066\uff08\u3059\u308f\u3063\u3066\uff09\u2192 \u5ea7\u3063\u3066\u3082\u3044\u3044\u3067\u3059\u304b\u3002<\/li><li>\u98f2\u3080\uff08\u306e\u3080, drink\uff09\u2192 \u98f2\u3093\u3067\uff08\u306e\u3093\u3067\uff09\u2192 \u98f2\u3093\u3067\u3082\u3044\u3044\u3067\u3059\u304b\u3002<\/li><li>\u4f7f\u3046\uff08\u3064\u304b\u3046, use\uff09\u2192 \u4f7f\u3063\u3066\uff08\u3064\u304b\u3063\u3066\uff09\u2192 \u4f7f\u3063\u3066\u3082\u3044\u3044\u3067\u3059\u304b\u3002<\/li><\/ul>\n<p>Do not attach \u3082\u3044\u3044\u3067\u3059\u304b directly to the polite \u307e\u3059-form: \u64ae\u308a\u307e\u3059\u3082\u3044\u3044\u3067\u3059\u304b is incorrect. Change the verb to \u64ae\u3063\u3066 first. When the te-form ends in \u3067, keep that ending: \u98f2\u3093\u3067 becomes \u98f2\u3093\u3067\u3082\u3044\u3044\u3067\u3059\u304b.<\/p>\n<h2>3. Three questions for everyday travel<\/h2>\n<h3>Before sitting down: \u3053\u3053\u306b\u5ea7\u3063\u3066\u3082\u3044\u3044\u3067\u3059\u304b\u3002<\/h3>\n<p>Reading: \u3053\u3053\u306b \u3059\u308f\u3063\u3066\u3082 \u3044\u3044\u3067\u3059\u304b\u3002<br>May I sit here?<\/p>\n<p>Use this when checking with someone whether you may take a seat beside them. Wait for their answer before sitting down.<\/p>\n<h3>Checking a rule: \u3053\u3053\u3067\u98f2\u3093\u3067\u3082\u3044\u3044\u3067\u3059\u304b\u3002<\/h3>\n<p>Reading: \u3053\u3053\u3067 \u306e\u3093\u3067\u3082 \u3044\u3044\u3067\u3059\u304b\u3002<br>May I have a drink here?<\/p>\n<p>The first \u3067, after \u3053\u3053, marks where the action happens. The \u3067 in \u98f2\u3093\u3067 belongs to the verb form. These do different jobs; start by practising the complete sentence rather than trying to learn every use of \u3067 at once.<\/p>\n<h3>Borrowing an item: \u3053\u306e\u30da\u30f3\u3092\u4f7f\u3063\u3066\u3082\u3044\u3044\u3067\u3059\u304b\u3002<\/h3>\n<p>Reading: \u3053\u306e\u30da\u30f3\u3092 \u3064\u304b\u3063\u3066\u3082 \u3044\u3044\u3067\u3059\u304b\u3002<br>May I use this pen?<\/p>\n<p>Naming the item is clearer than asking only \u3044\u3044\u3067\u3059\u304b. Respect signs and house rules as well: if photography is clearly prohibited, this phrase is not a way to insist on an exception.<\/p>\n<h2>4. How is it different from \u3066\u304f\u3060\u3055\u3044?<\/h2>\n<p><strong>\u5199\u771f\u3092\u64ae\u3063\u3066\u3082\u3044\u3044\u3067\u3059\u304b\u3002<\/strong> asks \u201cMay I take a photo?\u201d You want permission to do the action. <strong>\u5199\u771f\u3092\u64ae\u3063\u3066\u304f\u3060\u3055\u3044\u3002<\/strong> means \u201cPlease take a photo.\u201d You are asking the other person to do it. The verb form \u64ae\u3063\u3066 is the same, but the ending changes the purpose of the sentence.<\/p>\n<p>\u3066\u3082\u3044\u3044\u3067\u3059\u304b is an everyday polite question. In more formal situations, you may hear \u3066\u3082\u3088\u308d\u3057\u3044\u3067\u3059\u304b. Among friends, the shorter \u3066\u3082\u3044\u3044\uff1f is common.<\/p>\n<h2>5. Listen for permission or a refusal<\/h2>\n<ul><li>\u306f\u3044\u3001\u3069\u3046\u305e\u3002 = Yes, go ahead.<\/li><li>\u3059\u307f\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3001\u3053\u3053\u3067\u306f\u5199\u771f\u306f\u64ae\u308c\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3002<br>\u3059\u307f\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3001\u3053\u3053\u3067\u306f \u3057\u3083\u3057\u3093\u306f \u3068\u308c\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3002<br>Sorry, photography is not allowed here.<\/li><\/ul>\n<p>Do not stop listening at \u3059\u307f\u307e\u305b\u3093. It can introduce a refusal, so listen to the explanation that follows. If staff say you cannot do something, you can reply \u5206\u304b\u308a\u307e\u3057\u305f\u3002\u3042\u308a\u304c\u3068\u3046\u3054\u3056\u3044\u307e\u3059\u3002\uff08\u308f\u304b\u308a\u307e\u3057\u305f\u3002\u3042\u308a\u304c\u3068\u3046\u3054\u3056\u3044\u307e\u3059\u3002\uff09: \u201cUnderstood. Thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>A short conversation in a shop<\/h3>\n<blockquote><p>Customer: \u3059\u307f\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3001\u5199\u771f\u3092\u64ae\u3063\u3066\u3082\u3044\u3044\u3067\u3059\u304b\u3002<br>Excuse me, may I take a photo?<\/p><p>Staff: \u306f\u3044\u3001\u3069\u3046\u305e\u3002<br>Yes, go ahead.<\/p><p>Customer: \u3042\u308a\u304c\u3068\u3046\u3054\u3056\u3044\u307e\u3059\u3002<br>Thank you.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2>6. Check your understanding<\/h2>\n<ol><li>Choose the correct form: \u5199\u771f\u3092\uff08\u64ae\u308a\u307e\u3059\uff0f\u64ae\u3063\u3066\uff09\u3082\u3044\u3044\u3067\u3059\u304b\u3002<\/li><li>Using \u5ea7\u3063\u3066, ask \u201cMay I sit here?\u201d<\/li><li>Using \u98f2\u3093\u3067, ask \u201cMay I have a drink here?\u201d<\/li><li>Which asks the other person to take a photo? A: \u5199\u771f\u3092\u64ae\u3063\u3066\u3082\u3044\u3044\u3067\u3059\u304b\u3002 B: \u5199\u771f\u3092\u64ae\u3063\u3066\u304f\u3060\u3055\u3044\u3002<\/li><\/ol>\n<details><summary>Show answers and explanations<\/summary><ol><li>\u64ae\u3063\u3066. Use the te-form, not the \u307e\u3059-form.<\/li><li>\u3053\u3053\u306b\u5ea7\u3063\u3066\u3082\u3044\u3044\u3067\u3059\u304b\u3002\uff08\u3053\u3053\u306b \u3059\u308f\u3063\u3066\u3082 \u3044\u3044\u3067\u3059\u304b\u3002\uff09\u306b marks the spot where you want to sit.<\/li><li>\u3053\u3053\u3067\u98f2\u3093\u3067\u3082\u3044\u3044\u3067\u3059\u304b\u3002\uff08\u3053\u3053\u3067 \u306e\u3093\u3067\u3082 \u3044\u3044\u3067\u3059\u304b\u3002\uff09\u3067 marks where the drinking takes place.<\/li><li>B. \u3066\u304f\u3060\u3055\u3044 asks the other person to act; A asks permission to take the photo yourself.<\/li><\/ol><\/details>\n<h2>Try a question you might actually need<\/h2>\n<p>Choose \u5ea7\u3063\u3066\u3082\u3044\u3044\u3067\u3059\u304b or \u4f7f\u3063\u3066\u3082\u3044\u3044\u3067\u3059\u304b, and imagine who you are asking. Practise both an accepting and a declining reply. Asking clearly is only the first step: wait for permission, too.<\/p>\n<p>Read next: <a href=\"https:\/\/himawari-edu.com\/en\/japanese-daily-conversation\/\">everyday Japanese phrases for starting and checking conversations<\/a>, then <a href=\"https:\/\/himawari-edu.com\/en\/japanese-particles-ni-de\/\">how ni and de work with places<\/a>.<br><a href=\"https:\/\/himawari-edu.com\/en\/blog\/\">Back to the Japanese learning blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>For guided speaking practice, explore our <a href=\"https:\/\/himawari-edu.com\/en\/online-lesson\/\">online Japanese courses with English support<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n<style>body.postid-50621:not(.admin-bar) #main{padding-top:124px!important}body.postid-50621 .entry-content h2,body.postid-50621 .entry-content h3{scroll-margin-top:124px}@media(max-width:768px){body.postid-50621:not(.admin-bar) #main{padding-top:94px!important}body.postid-50621 .entry-content h2,body.postid-50621 .entry-content h3{scroll-margin-top:94px}}<\/style>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Ask \u201cMay I take a photo?\u201d in Japanese with te mo ii desu ka. Practise questions about seats and drinks, understand replies, and try four short exercises.","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_wp_convertkit_post_meta":{"form":"-1","landing_page":"0","tag":"0","restrict_content":"0"},"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_locale":"en_US","_original_post":"https:\/\/himawari-edu.com\/?p=50617","_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[327],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-50621","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-japanese-learning","en-US"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/himawari-edu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50621","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/himawari-edu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/himawari-edu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/himawari-edu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/himawari-edu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=50621"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/himawari-edu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50621\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":50653,"href":"https:\/\/himawari-edu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50621\/revisions\/50653"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/himawari-edu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=50621"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/himawari-edu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=50621"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/himawari-edu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=50621"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}