How to Say ‘May I take a photo?’ in Japanese
撮ってもいいですか。
totsu te mo ii desu ka
[tot te mo ee dess kah]
💬 Usage Tip: Use a verb's て form plus もいいですか to ask "may I...?" For example, 座ってもいいですか "may I sit?".
Phrase Breakdown
撮っても
totsu te mo
even if (I) take (a photo)
The ～ても form is the first half of the permission pattern ～てもいいですか. Hold the small っ.
ここで撮ってもいいですか。
May I take photos here?
Words in this phrase
撮っ
totsu
[tot]
take (photo) / snap (stem)
From 撮る, meaning to take a photo; this stem appears in the te-form.
写真を撮ってください。
Please take a photo.
て
te
[te]
te-form ending
Connects actions in sequence, like 'and' or 'then'.
ドアが開いて、入ります。
The door opens, and then I go in.
も
mo
[mo]
also; even
Part of でも, adding the nuance of something like or maybe.
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?
Completes the polite request for permission. Let your voice rise slightly at the end.
使ってもいいですか。
May I use it?
Words in this phrase
いい
ii
[ee]
good; okay
Means “okay/allowed” in the permission expression.
ここに座ってもいい ですか。
May I sit here?
です
desu
[dess]
is; polite copula
A polite sentence ending used in formal conversation.
少し伺いたいです。
I would like to ask a little.
か
ka
[kah]
question marker
Placed at the end of a sentence to make it a question.
A席はありますか。
Are there A seats available?
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