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  <h1>Expressing permission with "<span class="pinyinst">kěyǐ</span>" "<span class="hanzist">可以</span>"</h1>

  <p><span style="color: rgb(139, 0, 0); font-family: NotoSansCJKsc; font-size: 22px;">可以</span> (<span class="pinyin">kěyǐ</span>) is an auxiliary verb primarily used for expressing permission. It's often translated as "<b>can</b>," but in order to not get it confused with other words, it's best to think of it as "<b>may</b>" to emphasize the <b>permission aspect</b>.</p>

  <h2 id="sigil_toc_id_311">Contents</h2>

  <div class="contents">
    <ul>
      <li><a href="#sigil_toc_id_312">1 Basic Usage</a><br/></li>

      <ul>
        <li><a href="#Structure">1.1 Structure</a><br/></li>

        <li><a href="#sigil_toc_id_313">1.2 Examples</a><br/></li>
      </ul>

      <li><a href="#sigil_toc_id_314">2 Negating 可以 (kěyǐ) Sentences</a><br/></li>

      <ul>
        <li><a href="#Structure">2.1 Structure</a><br/></li>

        <li><a href="#sigil_toc_id_315">2.2 Examples</a><br/></li>
      </ul>

      <li><a href="#sigil_toc_id_316">3 See also</a></li>

      <li><a href="#sigil_toc_id_317">4 Sources and further reading</a><br/></li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <h2 id="sigil_toc_id_312">Basic Usage</h2>

  <p>Just put <span class="hanzi">可以</span> (<span class="pinyin">kěyǐ</span>) in directly before a verb to create a meaning of "<b>may</b>" (plus the verb). It's the same structure whether it's a statement or a question.</p>

  <h3 id="Structure">Structure</h3>

  <div class="deux">
    Subj. + <span class="hanzi">可以</span> + Verb + Obj.
  </div>

  <p>Use this structure to express permission to do things.</p>

  <h3 id="sigil_toc_id_313">Examples</h3>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="hanzi">我 可以 进来 吗？</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Wǒ kěyǐ jìnlái ma?</span> <br/>May I come in?</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">二十 一 岁 以后 可以 喝酒。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Èrshí-yī suì yǐhòu kěyǐ hējiǔ.</span><br/> After you are 21 years old, you may drink alcohol.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">妈妈，我 可以 出去 玩 吗？</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Māma, wǒ kěyǐ chūqù wán ma?</span><br/> Mom, may I go out and play?</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">我们 可以 在 办公室 吃饭 吗？</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Wǒmen kěyǐ zài bàngōngshì chīfàn ma?</span><br/> Can we eat in the office?</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">我 可以 在 这里 停车 吗？</span><br/> <span class="pinyin">Wǒ kěyǐ zài zhèlǐ tíngchē ma?</span><br/> Can I park here?</li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <h2 id="sigil_toc_id_314">Negating <span class="hanzist">可以</span> (<span class="pinyinst">kěyǐ</span>) Sentences</h2>

  <p><span style="color: rgb(139, 0, 0); font-family: NotoSansCJKsc; font-size: 22px;">可以</span> (<span class="pinyin">kěyǐ</span>) sentences are negated with <span class="hanzi">不</span> (<span class="pinyin">bù</span>), which is inserted before <span class="hanzi">可以</span> (<span class="pinyin">kěyǐ</span>).</p>

  <h3 id="Structure">Structure</h3>

  <div class="deux">
    Subj. + <span class="hanzist">不</span> + <span class="hanzist">可以</span> + Verb + Obj.
  </div>

  <h3 id="sigil_toc_id_315">Examples</h3>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="hanzi">孩子 不 可以 看 这 个。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Háizi bù kěyǐ kàn zhège.</span><br/> Children can't watch this.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">你 现在 不 可以 进去。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Nǐ xiànzài bù kěyǐ jìnqù.</span><br/> You can't go in right now.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">这里 不 可以抽烟。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Zhèlǐ bù kěyǐ chōuyān.</span><br/> You can't smoke here.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">我们 都 不 可以 去 。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Wǒmen dōu bù kěyǐ qù.</span><br/> None of us may go.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">你 不 可以 说 脏话。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Nǐ bù kěyǐ shuō zānghuà.</span><br/> You can't say swear words.</li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <h2 id="sigil_toc_id_316">See also</h2>

  <ul>
    <li>Expressing ability or possibility with "<span class="pinyin">néng</span>"</li>

    <li>Comparing "<span class="pinyin">huì</span>" "<span class="pinyin">néng</span>" "<span class="pinyin">kěyǐ</span>"</li>

    <li>Expressing a learned skill with "<span class="pinyin">huì</span>"</li>
  </ul>

  <h2 id="sigil_toc_id_317">Sources and further reading</h2>

  <ul>
    <li>New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (<span class="hanzi">新实用汉语课本1)</span> (pp. 160-1)</li>

    <li>New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (<span class="hanzi">新实用汉语课本1</span>)(2nd ed) (pp. 185-7)</li>

    <li>A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (<span class="hanzi">外国人实用汉语语法</span>) (p. 44)</li>
  </ul>
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