N4#te-form#grammar#n4#permission

Te-Form & Connecting Lesson 4

Mastering the usage of Te-form for permissions (てもいい) and prohibitions (てはいけない).

Context

Asking for Permission

Imagine you are visiting a museum or a library in Japan. You see a beautiful painting or a quiet study area and want to know if it is okay to take a photo or sit down. In these situations, you need to ask for permission politely.

Conversely, there are places where certain actions are strictly forbidden, like smoking in a non-smoking area or touching delicate exhibits. Understanding how to express both permission and prohibition is essential for navigating daily life in Japan.

Explanation

Permission and Prohibition

The Te-form is the gateway to expressing permission and prohibition. By attaching specific endings to the Te-form, you can easily ask if something is allowed or state that it is forbidden.

Verb-teもいいですか

To ask for permission, use the structure [Verb-te] + もいいです (Is it okay to...?). To give permission, simply drop the question particle 'ka'. For prohibition, use [Verb-te] + はいけません (Must not... / You are not allowed to...).

Tip

The phrase 'てはいけません' is quite strong and formal. Use it when stating rules or prohibitions clearly. In casual conversation, people often shorten it to 'ちゃいけない' or 'じゃいけない'.

Examples

Examples in Context

See how these patterns work in real sentences.

ここで写真(しゃしん)を撮って(とって)もいいですか。

Is it okay to take a photo here?

ここここhereででat写真しゃしんphotoををobject marker撮ってとってtake (te-form)もいいですかもいいですかis it okay?

ここに座って(すわって)もいいです。

You may sit here.

ここここhereににat/in座ってすわってsit (te-form)もいいですもいいですit is okay

ここでタバコ(たばこ)を吸って(すって)はいけません。

You must not smoke here.

ここここhereででatタバコたばこcigaretteををobject marker吸ってすってsmoke (te-form)はいけませんはいけませんmust not

How do you say 'You must not enter'?

入ってもいいです
✓ 入ってはいけません
入ってもいいですか
入ってはいけます

てはいけません is the correct structure for prohibition.

Usage

Nuance and Register

While these forms are grammatically correct, be mindful of who you are talking to.

Permission vs Prohibition

〜てもいい

Permission (You may...)

入ってもいいです

〜てはいけない

Prohibition (You must not...)

入ってはいけません

Watch out

Asking a superior '〜てもいいですか' can sound slightly demanding or childish. In professional settings, use '〜てもよろしいでしょうか' instead.

Which form is more appropriate when speaking to a teacher?

〜てもいいですか
✓ 〜てもよろしいでしょうか

〜てもよろしいでしょうか is the polite, humble way to ask for permission.

Deep dive

Deep Dive: Variations

Advanced notes on Te-form usage.

In spoken Japanese, the 'i' in 'te-form + wa' often disappears. For example, 'てはいけません' becomes 'ちゃいけません' (for verbs ending in -te) or 'じゃいけません' (for verbs ending in -de). This is very common in casual speech but should be avoided in writing or formal situations.

Summary

Lesson Summary

You have learned how to use the Te-form to negotiate permissions and prohibitions. Remember: '〜てもいい' grants or asks for permission, while '〜てはいけません' sets a firm boundary or rule.

写真

しゃしんnoun

photo

撮る

とるverb

to take (a photo)

座る

すわるverb

to sit

吸う

すうverb

to smoke/inhale

入る

はいるverb

to enter