🙋▶️❓

How to Say ‘May I start now?’ in Simplified Chinese

现在可以开始吗？

xiàn zài kě yǐ kāi shǐ ma

[xiànzài kuh-yee kāishǐ ma]

💬 Usage Tip: Time words like 现在 go at the front of the sentence, before the verb. That's the opposite of English "start now". The same goes for 今天我介绍….

🇨🇳 In China: Asking the most senior person in the room for permission before you begin is a polite, expected way to open a presentation in a Chinese office.

Phrase Breakdown

现在

xiàn zài

[xiànzài]

now; currently

Refers to the present moment.

Example

现在可以点菜吗？

Can we order now?

可以开始吗？

kě yǐ kāi shǐ ma

can (we) start?

可以 means 'can / may' and 开始 means 'to start'. 吗 makes it a yes/no question. This is a polite way to ask for permission to begin.

Example

会议可以开始吗？

Can the meeting start?

Words in this phrase

可以

kě yǐ

[kuh-yee]

can; may

Used to express possibility, permission, or a suggested option.

Example

你可以先问一个简单的问题。

You can first ask a simple question.

开始

kāi shǐ

[kāishǐ]

to begin; to start

Verb meaning to start doing something.

Example

会议九点开始。

The meeting starts at nine.

吗

[ma]

question particle

A sentence-final particle used to turn a statement into a yes-no question.

Example

你是第一次来吗？这里的“吗”表示提问。

Is this your first time here? Here, 吗 marks a question.

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