てもいい

you may, it’s okay to, you can

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てもいい is a Japanese grammatical structure used to express permission or indicate that an action is acceptable. It is commonly translated as "you may (do something)", "it’s okay to (do something)", or "you can (do something)" in English. This expression is often used to ask for, grant, or confirm permission, making it a key phrase for polite and everyday communication.

When paired with verbs, てもいい emphasizes that the action is explicitly allowed or acceptable. The particle も in ても adds a nuance of flexibility, highlighting that the action is one of multiple acceptable options. In casual speech, the も is frequently omitted, resulting in ていい, which conveys the same meaning but with a more relaxed tone.

In formal or professional settings, てもよろしいでしょうか is preferred for its higher level of politeness. This variation replaces いい with よろしい (a more respectful form of "good") and softens the request or confirmation with でしょうか, making it suitable for business contexts, customer interactions, or addressing superiors.

The flexibility of てもいい allows it to adapt seamlessly across casual and formal situations, making it an essential expression for requesting or granting permission while maintaining cultural norms of respect and politeness.

Structure

Verb［て］+ も + いい⁽¹⁾

Verb［なくて］+ も + いい⁽¹⁾

い-Adjective + ~~い~~く + ても + いい⁽¹⁾

な-Adjective + でも + いい⁽¹⁾

Noun + でも + いい⁽¹⁾

⁽¹⁾ 大丈夫 / OK (オッケー) —

JLPT Level

Key uses

1. Granting permission

The primary use of てもいい is to grant permission for an action. It indicates that the speaker is allowing or approving the action.

[ Additional Insight ]

This use emphasizes permission and approval, making it ideal for casual or friendly settings. It conveys freedom to act, while maintaining a polite and encouraging tone.

2. Requesting permission in formal settings

Another important use of てもいい is to request permission to do something. In more formal or respectful settings, てもよろしいでしょうか is used to ask for permission in a polite and respectful way.

[ Additional Insight ]

This use conveys respect and formality, making it suitable for professional or hierarchical interactions. Adding polite expressions like よろしいでしょうか elevates the tone, ensuring the request sounds courteous and considerate.

3. Dropping も in casual speech

In informal conversations, the も in てもいい is often dropped, creating the more casual ていい. This is common in everyday speech, especially when the sentence is shortened or when the context makes the permission implied. The meaning remains the same, expressing that the action is allowed or permitted, but it sounds more relaxed and conversational.

[ Additional Insight ]

ていい is commonly used in casual settings like conversations among friends or family. It simplifies communication and feels natural in everyday speech. This form retains the politeness implied by the full てもいい structure but aligns better with informal tone.

4. Expressing something is acceptable

This structure can also be used to reassure someone that their action is acceptable or that there’s no problem with doing it. It provides approval for the action.

[ Additional Insight ]

This use conveys assurance and approval, emphasizing that the action is permissible or encouraged. It’s often used to reduce hesitation or doubt, creating a positive and supportive tone.

5. Negative forms: Expressing what you don’t want

The negative forms てほしくない or ないでほしい are used to express what the speaker doesn’t want someone to do. These structures range from casual to emphatic, depending on tone and context.

[ Additional Insight ]

This form is effective for setting boundaries or expressing gentle disapproval without sounding overly harsh. Adding polite endings helps adapt the tone for different situations.

6. Expressing a desire for general situations

In addition to addressing specific individuals, てほしい can express a general wish or desire about broader situations or outcomes, even when not directed at a specific person.

[ Additional Insight ]

This use highlights universal hopes or aspirations that are not tied to a particular individual’s actions. It’s often used for reflective or idealistic statements.

Comparisons

1. なくてもいい

Both てもいい and なくてもいい give permission, but they express opposite nuances. てもいい means "it’s okay to do something," while なくてもいい means "it’s okay not to do something" or "you don’t have to do it." Use てもいい to allow an action and なくてもいい to permit inaction.

2. たい

たい expresses the speaker’s own desire to do something, while てほしい expresses the desire for someone else to do something. Use たい when focusing on your own actions, and てほしい when wishing for someone else’s actions.

3. ていた (past continuous)

ていた is the past continuous form, describing actions that were ongoing or habitual in the past but have since ended. In contrast, ている focuses on the present state. Use ていた to describe past states or repeated actions.