#28

Asking for permission

写真を撮ってもいいですか May I take photos here?

  • Skit
  • Video
Subtitles
  • English
  • Japanese
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Mi Ya has come to Kamakura. A piano recital is being held at a temple.

Skit
Vocabulary

大人

otona

adult

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1人

hitori

one person

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お願いする

onegai-suru

ask/please

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すみません

sumimasen

excuse me

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写真を撮る

shashin o toru

take a photo

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ええ

ee

yes

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いい

ii

OK

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すてき(な)

suteki (na)

wonderful

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お客様

okyakusama

sir/ma'am

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ここ

koko

here

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saki

further

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遠慮する

enryo-suru

refrain

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すみません

sumimasen

sorry

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Key Phrase

To ask permission to do something, say "[the verb's TE-form] + mo ii desu ka.” "-te mo ii (desu)" means "you can XXX" and indicates permission. "Shashin o totte" is "shashin o toru" or "to take a photo" in the TE-form.

When you want to consent to a request for permission, say "Iidesu yo" or "Yes, you can," "Doozo" or "Please," or "Mochiron desu" or "Of course."

Learn more!

Use It!
Try It Out!

Try asking for permission

1Which of these three choices is the correct way to say this sentence in Japanese?

May I enter?

enter

入る(→入って)

hairu (→haitte)

2Say the sentence in Japanese, using the following word(s).

May I XXX?

~てもいいですか。

~te mo ii desu ka.

rest

休む(→休んで)

yasumu (→yasunde)

3Say the sentence in Japanese, using the following word(s).

May I XXX?

~てもいいですか。

~te mo ii desu ka.

sit here

ここに座る(→座って)

koko ni suwaru

Step-up

Counting People

Kanji

Tera (temple)

Culture

Pop Culture with Mike

Japanese Music

Japan has many genres of music, including J-pop, anime songs, and enka to name a few. There's also traditional music using Japanese instruments such as the koto harp, the three-stringed shamisen, and wadaiko drums.

Koto performance

Wadaiko performance

J-pop by itself has idol groups, rock bands, and so on, involving various artists.
Music festivals across the country feature both domestic artists and those from abroad.

Summer Sonic

Fuji Rock Festival

Trip tip

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