Asking Permission to Photograph Someone in Mandarin Chinese
Learn polite Mandarin phrases for asking a stranger if you may take their photo during a photo walk, including how to talk about portrait rights and deleting a picture if they decline.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
On a photo walk in China, the most useful skill is not framing or lighting — it is asking first. Mandarin has a short, polite question for this: 可以拍照吗？ (Kěyǐ pāizhào ma?). This lesson teaches that question, the key term 肖像权 (xiàoxiàngquán, portrait rights), and the verb 删除 (shānchú, to delete), so you can ask clearly, understand a refusal, and respond respectfully. You will practise a short exchange with a stranger, learn which words refer to the person, the photo, and the act of deleting, and see why asking before you raise your camera is the normal, considerate approach in mainland China.
By the end, you can…
- politely ask a stranger for permission to take their photo in Mandarin.
- understand and respond when someone mentions 肖像权 or asks me to delete a photo.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
可以拍照吗？
May I take a photo?
kěyǐ pāizhào ma
The standard polite request. Use it before raising your camera at a person, a stall, or a small shop.
我可以给您拍一张照片吗？
May I take a photo of you?
wǒ kěyǐ gěi nín pāi yì zhāng zhàopiàn ma
Warmer and more specific. 您 (nín) is the respectful 'you'; 一张 (yì zhāng) is the counter for one photo.
对不起，我删除了。
Sorry, I have deleted it.
duìbuqǐ, wǒ shānchú le
Say this after removing a photo, for example when someone has asked you not to keep it.
我尊重您的肖像权。
I respect your portrait rights.
wǒ zūnzhòng nín de xiàoxiàngquán
Shows you understand the legal and personal idea behind their refusal. 肖像权 refers to a person's right over images of their own face.
如果您不愿意，我就不拍。
If you would rather not, I won't take it.
rúguǒ nín bú yuànyì, wǒ jiù bú pāi
A graceful way to accept a 'no' without pressure. 不愿意 means 'not willing'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is 可以……吗？ (kěyǐ … ma?), meaning 'May I …?'. Put the action between 可以 and 吗: 可以拍照吗？ (May I take a photo?), 可以坐这里吗？ (May I sit here?). To name the person, add 给 + person before the verb: 我可以给您拍一张照片吗？ (May I take a photo of you?). Notice that 拍照 (pāizhào) is the general act, while 拍一张照片 (pāi yì zhāng zhàopiàn) counts one specific picture. If you want to ask about deleting, use 删除 (shānchú): 可以删除吗？ (May I delete it?) or 我删除了 (I deleted it).
When to use it
Ask before the camera comes up, not after. A short 可以拍照吗？ with a smile is enough for most street scenes. For a close portrait of a person's face, use the fuller 我可以给您拍一张照片吗？ and wait for a clear yes. If someone says 不行 (bù xíng, not okay) or mentions 肖像权, do not argue or keep shooting; lower the camera and say 好的，谢谢 (hǎo de, xièxie). If they later ask you to remove a picture, say 对不起，我删除了 after you have actually deleted it. These phrases also work with staff in small shops and cafés when you want to photograph the interior.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
您好，我可以给您拍一张照片吗？
Hello, may I take a photo of you?nín hǎo, wǒ kěyǐ gěi nín pāi yì zhāng zhàopiàn ma不好意思，我不太愿意。
Sorry, I'd rather not.bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ bú tài yuànyì没关系，我尊重您的肖像权。
That's fine, I respect your portrait rights.méi guānxi, wǒ zūnzhòng nín de xiàoxiàngquán谢谢理解。如果你拍了，请删除。
Thanks for understanding. If you took one, please delete it.xièxie lǐjiě. rúguǒ nǐ pāi le, qǐng shānchúA little context goes a long way
In mainland China, asking before photographing a person is both polite and practical, because 肖像权 (portrait rights) is a recognised personal right over one's own image. A clear question and a calm acceptance of 'no' matter more than perfect grammar. In busy tourist areas people may agree quickly; in quieter neighbourhoods, a short explanation of why you want the picture is often appreciated.
One thing to watch for
Saying 我可以拍照你吗？ by putting the person after 拍照, as in English 'photograph you'.
Try this instead: Chinese marks the person with 给 before the action: 我可以给您拍一张照片吗？ (May I take a photo of you?). Keep 拍照 as the general act, and use 给 + person + 拍 + 照片 when you name who is in the picture.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You want to photograph a stranger's face. Which question is the most appropriate?
Show a sample answer
我可以给您拍一张照片吗？
This names the person with 给 and uses the respectful 您, so it fits a close portrait. 可以拍照吗？ is also correct and polite, but it is more general and does not specify that the person is the subject.
2Someone says 请删除. What have they asked you to do?
Show a sample answer
They have asked you to delete the photo.
删除 (shānchú) means 'to delete'. A suitable reply is 好的，我删除了 (Okay, I have deleted it) once you have actually removed the picture.
3A person refuses and mentions 肖像权. What is the best response?
Show a sample answer
我尊重您的肖像权，不拍了。
This shows you understand their right over their own image and accept the refusal. 好的，谢谢 also works; arguing or continuing to shoot does not.
Ask first with 可以拍照吗？ or the fuller 我可以给您拍一张照片吗？, accept 不 or 肖像权 calmly, and if asked, delete the photo and say 我删除了.
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