Permission, rules, and wants
Ask whether an action is allowed and say what you would like to do.
What you’ll work on
- Ask permission with てもいいですか
- Recognize a prohibition with てはいけません
- Express a personal wish with たいです
A short conversation
Google voice when available; device voice as a fallback. Kana readings help you read the written words; they do not show pitch accent.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- ここkokohere
- でdeplace or means marker
- しゃしんshashinphoto
- をoobject markerPronounced o. Marks what the action acts on; English usually has no separate word for it.
- とってもいいですか。tottemoiidesukamay I take (photos)?て-form + もいいですか asks permission.
The subject is understood from context in Japanese. English adds “I”, “you”, or “we” as needed. Match meaningful word groups, not individual characters.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- はい、haiyes
- いいですiidesuis good / is allowedHere it grants permission in reply to a question.
- よ。yoemphasis / information for the listener
いいですよ grants permission here. よ presents the answer confidently to the listener; “you” is understood.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- あのanothat (over there)
- へやheyaroom
- でdeplace or means marker
- もmoalso / too
- とってもいいですか。tottemoiidesukamay I take (photos)?て-form + もいいですか asks permission.
写真 (photos) is understood from the earlier conversation; English supplies “them”.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- いいえ、iieno
- あのanothat (over there)
- へやheyaroom
- でdeplace or means marker
- はwatopic markerPronounced wa. Marks what the sentence is about; it does not mean “is”.
- とってはいけません。totte wa ikemasenmust not take (photos)て-form + はいけません expresses a prohibition.
は contrasts this room with the other location. The photos and the person are understood; English supplies “them” and “you”.
Ask permission, not ability
て-form + もいいですか asks whether an action is allowed: 入ってもいいですか, May I come in? This is different from ability, such as being physically able to enter.
てはいけません expresses a rule or prohibition. A direct prohibition can sound firm; learn it to understand signs and instructions. Do not confuse it with the softer request ないでください.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- はいってもいいですか。haittemoiidesukamay I come in?
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- ここkokohere
- でdeplace or means marker
- たべてはいけません。tabete wa ikemasenmust not eat
Say what you want to do
Attach たい to the polite stem: 食べます → 食べたい. Add です for a polite sentence. The negative is 食べたくないです, following an い-adjective-like pattern.
たい most directly expresses your own wish, or asks the listener about theirs. Avoid automatically using it to assert what another person privately wants. A future plan can instead be expressed with dictionary form + つもりです.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- にほんにnihonnito Japan日本 means “Japan”; に marks it as the destination.
- いきたいです。ikitaidesuwant to go (polite)たい attaches to the verb stem to express wanting to do the action.
“I” is understood from context here; there is no written Japanese word for it in this sentence.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- きょうkyoutoday
- はwatopic markerPronounced wa. Marks what the sentence is about; it does not mean “is”.
- でかけたくないです。dekaketakunaidesudo not want to go out
The subject is understood from context in Japanese. English adds “I”, “you”, or “we” as needed. Match meaningful word groups, not individual characters.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- あした、ashitatomorrow
- えいがeigafilm
- をoobject markerPronounced o. Marks what the action acts on; English usually has no separate word for it.
- みるmiruwatch / see (dictionary form)
- つもりです。tsumoridesuintend to / plan toFollows a plain verb form to express an intention.
The subject is understood from context in Japanese. English adds “I”, “you”, or “we” as needed. Match meaningful word groups, not individual characters.
Lesson vocabulary
Listen once, say it aloud, and try to recall the Japanese before looking.
| Japanese / reading | English | Listen |
|---|---|---|
| 写真 しゃしん | photograph | |
| 撮る とる | to take (a photograph; godan) | |
| 入る はいる | to enter (godan) | |
| 部屋 へや | room | |
| 出かける でかける | to go out (ichidan) | |
| 日本 にほん | Japan |
Practice questions
Try every question, then check your answers. Punctuation and spacing do not affect your score. Use the displayed Japanese spelling or the complete kana reading; mixed spellings are accepted only when explicitly listed. Long vowels, small kana, and verb endings matter.
Showing an answer makes that question a practice item worth zero for this attempt. Retry with the answers hidden when you’re ready. If audio cannot play, use Show answer / text to practice by reading.
Independent practice
These are independent practice tasks. The site does not record your voice, save your writing, or grade open-ended answers. Ask a teacher or conversation partner for feedback when you can.
Speaking practice
Ask permission to do two things in an imaginary museum. Then say one thing you want to do tomorrow.
Writing practice
Write a permission question, a prohibition, and a personal wish. Underline the different endings.
Review the lesson objectives
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