How to Say ‘Can we start?’ in Traditional Chinese
可以開始了嗎？
kě yǐ kāi shǐ le ma
[kuh-yee kāishǐ le ma]
💬 Usage Tip: Here 了 signals a change: "is it time now to start?" Without it, 可以開始嗎？ just asks whether starting is allowed.
Phrase Breakdown
可以
kě yǐ
[kuh-yee]
can; may
Used to express ability, permission, or that something is possible.
你如果想加這位主管的聯絡方式，現在可以先自我介紹。
If you want to add this manager's contact information, you can introduce yourself first now.
開始了嗎？
kāi shǐ le ma
start now?
開始 means 'start.' 了 marks a change of situation, and 嗎 turns the sentence into a yes/no question. Keep 了 and 嗎 light and quick.
電影開始了嗎？
Has the movie started?
Words in this phrase
開始
kāi shǐ
[kāishǐ]
to start; to begin
Verb meaning to begin an action or event.
會議九點開始。
The meeting starts at nine.
了
le
[le]
change-of-state particle
With 快…了, shows something is about to happen.
火車快來了。
The train is about to arrive.
嗎
ma
[ma]
question particle
A sentence-final particle used to turn a statement into a yes-no question.
你喜歡這個活動嗎？
Do you like this event?
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