How to Say ‘May I...?’ in Traditional Chinese
請問我可以…嗎？
qǐng wèn wǒ kě yǐ ma
[cheeng-wun waw kuh-ee ma]
💬 Usage Tip: [請問] softens the question, and [可以…嗎] makes a polite "may I…?" frame. Put them together for many travel questions: [請問我可以先登機嗎？]
Phrase Breakdown
請問
qǐng wèn
[cheeng-wun]
excuse me; may I ask
A polite opener for asking staff a question.
請問我可以先選位子嗎？
Excuse me, may I choose my seat first?
我可以
wǒ kě yǐ
may I; I can
Used to ask for permission or ability.
請問我可以…嗎？
Excuse me, may I…?
Words in this phrase
我
wǒ
[waw]
I; me
Refers to yourself when making a polite request.
請問我可以改位子嗎？
Excuse me, can I change my seat?
可以
kě yǐ
[kuh-ee]
can; may; be allowed to
Used for asking permission in a polite way.
請問我可以晚一點登機嗎？
Excuse me, may I board a little later?
嗎？
ma
question particle
Turns the statement into a polite yes/no question.
請問我可以…嗎？
Excuse me, may I…?
Words in this phrase
嗎
ma
[ma]
question particle
Turns the sentence into a yes-no question at the end.
請問我可以帶水進去嗎？
Excuse me, may I bring water in?
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