Offline mode

    聞いてもいいですか (kiite mo ii desu ka) - May I ask?

    Grammar & Usage

    fixed expression
    polite, neutral

    How it works

    This phrase uses the verb te-form (聞い-て 'kīte' from 聞く 'kiku' - to ask/listen) followed by もいい (mo ii), which means 'it is okay/permissible'. The polite copula です (desu) and question particle か (ka) make it a polite question requesting permission. It can be translated as 'May I do X?' or 'Is it okay to do X?'.

    Sample sentences

    あの、ちょっとお伺いしてもいいですか？

    Excuse me, may I ask you something?

    先生、質問してもいいですか？

    Teacher, may I ask a question?

    これは個人的なことなので、聞いてもいいですかどうか迷っています。

    This is a personal matter, so I'm not sure if it's okay to ask.

    Quick facts

    politeness:The use of 'desu ka' makes it a polite and appropriate way to ask for permission from someone you don't know well or someone of higher status. For a more casual context, one might drop 'desu ka' (e.g., 聞いてもいい？ 'kiite mo ii?').
    verb_conjugation:The core structure is V-te form + もいいですか. The verb 'kiku' (聞く) changes to its te-form 'kiite' (聞いて).

    Mnemonic

    Sign in for a creative sound-alike story that makes "聞いてもいいですか (kiite mo ii desu ka) - May I ask?" unforgettable 🧠

    Get an AI-generated memory hook for 聞いてもいいですか (kiite mo ii desu ka) - May I ask? — a vivid scene that locks the word in your brain 🧠

    Example

    あの、ちょっとお伺いしてもいいですか？

    Excuse me, may I ask you something?

    先生、質問してもいいですか？

    Teacher, may I ask a question?

    Sign in for AI-generated examples tailored to your level ✨