Permission, wishes, and plans
Use distinct endings for allowed actions, desires, and intentions.
てもいいですか asks permission. てはいけません states a prohibition. A negative request instead uses ないでください. These forms differ in function and strength, even when English translations sound similar.
The polite stem plus たいです expresses your own wish: 食べたいです. Dictionary form plus つもりです states an intention. For an experience, use plain past plus ことがあります. Pick the pattern that expresses your actual meaning.
Examples
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- しゃしんshashinphoto
- をoobject markerUsually pronounced o. Marks what the action affects; English often expresses this through word order.
- とってtottetake (a photo; て-form)
- もいいですか。moiidesukamay / is it okay? (permission)Together, て-form + もいいですか asks permission.
“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.
- 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.
- あした、ashitatomorrow
- ほんhonbook
- をoobject markerUsually pronounced o. Marks what the action affects; English often expresses this through word order.
- よむyomuread (dictionary form)
- つもりです。tsumoridesuintend to (polite)
“I” is understood from context here; there is no written Japanese word for it in this sentence.
Keep in mind
たい normally expresses the speaker’s own wish or asks the listener about theirs; do not automatically assert another person’s private wish with it.