How to Say ‘May I take photos?’ in Japanese
写真を撮ってもいいですか。
shashin o totsu te mo ii desu ka
[shah-sheen oh]
💬 Usage Tip: This is a classic permission pattern: [verb in て-form] + [もいいですか]. Super useful beyond museums too, like asking to sit, enter, or use something.
🇯🇵 In Japan: Many Japanese museums allow photos in some areas but not others. Asking first is considerate and often appreciated, especially for special exhibitions.
Phrase Breakdown
写真
shashin
[shah-sheen]
photograph; photo
A picture taken by camera; often used when asking about museum photography.
写真を見せてください。
Please show me the photo.
を
o
[oh]
object marker
Marks 写真 as the thing being taken in the sentence.
地図をください。
Please give me a map.
撮って
take (a photo), and...
The te-form of 撮る, used here in the expression 'may I take...'.
写真を撮ってください。
Please take a photo.
写真
shashin
[shah-sheen]
photograph; photo
A picture taken by camera; often used when asking about museum photography.
写真を見せてください。
Please show me the photo.
写真
shashin
[shah-sheen]
photograph; photo
A picture taken by camera; often used when asking about museum photography.
写真を見せてください。
Please show me the photo.
写真
shashin
[shah-sheen]
photograph; photo
A picture taken by camera; often used when asking about museum photography.
写真を見せてください。
Please show me the photo.
写真
shashin
[shah-sheen]
photograph; photo
A picture taken by camera; often used when asking about museum photography.
写真を見せてください。
Please show me the photo.
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