Grammar Info
N5 Lesson 9: 4/13

~てもいい (Verb)
It's okay to, It's alright to, Can/may

Structure
Casual
Polite
Verb[て]+ + いい
Verb[て]+ + いい + です
Details
Part of Speech Expression
Word Type Adjective
Register Standard
品詞 表現
単語の種類 形容詞
使用域 一般
Information
Verb + てもいい is a construction in Japanese used to express that something is ‘okay’, or ‘alright’. It can also be used as a question to ask if you ‘can’, or ‘may’ do something.
  • その靴(くつ)買(か)ってもいい
    It’s alright if you buy those shoes.
  • この肉(にく)食(た)べてもいいです
    It is okay to eat this meat.
  • 明日(あした)家(いえ)行(い)ってもいいです
    Is it okay if I go to your house tomorrow?
  • ペン借(か)りてもいいです
    May I borrow your pen?
This phrase is also regularly used without the , but is considered a bit more direct/casual. It is best to remove the only when talking to people that you know well.
This expression is simply a construction that literally means (verb) (also) いい (is good).
Caution
As this grammar point uses the form of verbs, it is important to remember that some verbs will use instead of .
Slow Male
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これ見(み)てもいい
Is it alright if I look at this?
Play  
質問(しつもん)てもいい
May I ask a question?
Play  
暑(あつ)いです水(みず)飲(の)んもいいです
It’s hot. Is it alright to drink some water?
Play  
Books
みんなの日本語 I
Page 98 [CH 15]
Genki I 2nd Edition
Page 152