🙋❓

How to Say ‘May I ask?’ in Japanese

聞いてもいいですか？

kii te mo ii desu ka

[kee-EE te mo ee-ee dess kah]

💬 Usage Tip: 〜てもいいですか asks permission: "may I…?". Example: 座ってもいいですか "may I sit?".

Phrase Breakdown

聞いても

kii te mo

even if I ask / may I ask

聞いて (te-form of 聞く, 'to ask') + も. Pronounced 'kiite-mo' with a long 'ii'.

Example

質問を聞いても大丈夫？

Is it okay if I ask a question?

Words in this phrase

聞い

kii

[kee-EE]

to ask

Stem of 聞く; here means to ask for information.

Example

道を聞いてもいいですか？

May I ask the way?

て

[te]

te-form ending

Connects actions in sequence, like 'and' or 'then'.

Example

ドアが開いて、入ります。

The door opens, and then I go in.

も

[mo]

also; even

Part of でも, adding the nuance of something like or maybe.

Example

コーヒーでも飲みましょう。

Let's have coffee or something.

いいですか？

ii desu ka

is it okay?

A polite way to ask permission. Raise your pitch at the end because it's a question.

Example

ここに座ってもいいですか？

May I sit here?

Words in this phrase

いい

[ee-ee]

good; okay

Shows that something is acceptable or permitted.

Example

ここに書いてもいいです。

It is okay to write here.

です

desu

[dess]

is; polite copula

A polite sentence ending used in formal conversation.

Example

少し伺いたいです。

I would like to ask a little.

か

[kah]

question marker

Placed at the end of a sentence to make it a question.

Example

A席はありますか。

Are there A seats available?

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