Korean Lesson: Asking and Giving Permission with -아도 돼요?
Learn to ask for and give permission in Korean using the pattern -아도/어도 돼요? and its responses, focusing on permission rather than ability.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
In Korean, asking for permission is different from asking about ability. To ask 'Can I borrow your pen?' you use the pattern -아도/어도 돼요? which literally means 'Is it okay if I...?' This lesson teaches you how to ask for permission and how to grant or deny it politely. You will learn the key phrases and practice with a short dialogue. By the end, you will be able to ask for permission in various everyday situations and respond appropriately.
By the end, you can…
- ask for permission using -아도/어도 돼요?
- grant permission with 네, 돼요 or 그래도 돼요
- deny permission politely with 안 돼요 or 미안하지만 안 돼요
- use the correct verb stem form for permission questions
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
펜 좀 빌려 줘도 돼요?
Can you lend me your pen?
pen jom bil-lyeo jwo-do dwae-yo?
Use when you want someone to lend you something. 좀 makes the request softer.
네, 돼요.
Sure, you can.
ne, dwae-yo.
A simple and common way to grant permission.
여기 앉아도 돼요?
May I sit here?
yeo-gi an-ja-do dwae-yo?
Use when asking to sit in a specific spot, like on a bench or in a cafe.
안 돼요.
No, you can't.
an dwae-yo.
A direct refusal. Use with caution; it can sound blunt. Add 미안하지만 (sorry, but) to soften.
미안하지만 안 돼요.
Sorry, but you can't.
mi-an-ha-ji-man an dwae-yo.
A polite way to deny permission. Use when you need to refuse someone's request.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To ask for permission, take the verb stem and add -아도/어도 돼요? The choice between -아도 and -어도 depends on the last vowel of the stem. If the stem ends in ㅏ or ㅗ, use -아도; otherwise, use -어도. For example, 앉다 (to sit) becomes 앉아도 돼요? (May I sit?), and 쓰다 (to use) becomes 써도 돼요? (May I use it?). The question literally means 'Is it okay even if I...?' The response 네, 돼요 means 'Yes, it's okay.' To deny, say 안 돼요 (It's not okay).
When to use it
Use this pattern when you need permission from someone, such as borrowing an item, entering a place, or taking an action that might affect others. It is not used for asking about ability; for that, use -(으)ㄹ 수 있어요? For example, 'Can you swim?' is 수영할 수 있어요? (ability), while 'Can I swim here?' is 여기서 수영해도 돼요? (permission). The permission pattern is more polite and indirect, making it suitable for requests to strangers, elders, or in formal situations.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
저기요, 펜 좀 빌려 줘도 돼요?
Excuse me, can you lend me your pen?jeo-gi-yo, pen jom bil-lyeo jwo-do dwae-yo?네, 돼요. 여기 있어요.
Sure, you can. Here you go.ne, dwae-yo. yeo-gi i-sseo-yo.감사합니다. 잠깐 써도 돼요?
Thank you. Can I use it for a moment?gam-sa-ham-ni-da. jam-kkan sseo-do dwae-yo?네, 마음껏 쓰세요.
Yes, feel free to use it.ne, ma-eum-kkeot sseu-se-yo.A little context goes a long way
In Korean culture, asking for permission indirectly with -아도 돼요? is considered polite and respectful, especially when talking to someone older or of higher status. Directly saying 안 돼요 can sound harsh; it's common to soften refusals with an apology or an excuse, such as 미안하지만 안 돼요 or 죄송하지만 어려워요. When granting permission, a simple 네, 돼요 is fine, but adding a warm tone or a phrase like 그럼요 (of course) can make it friendlier.
One thing to watch for
Using -(으)ㄹ 수 있어요? to ask for permission, as in 펜을 빌릴 수 있어요?
Try this instead: This asks about ability, not permission. To ask for permission, use -아도/어도 돼요? For example, 펜 좀 빌려 줘도 돼요? means 'Can you lend me your pen?'
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you ask 'Can I sit here?' in Korean?
Show a sample answer
여기 앉아도 돼요?
This uses the verb 앉다 (to sit) with the permission pattern -아도 돼요? because the stem ends in ㅏ. Other variations like 여기 앉아도 될까요? are more polite but also correct.
2What is a polite way to deny permission?
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미안하지만 안 돼요.
This softens the refusal with an apology. You could also say 죄송하지만 어려워요 (Sorry, but it's difficult) to be even more indirect.
3Translate to Korean: 'Can I use your phone?'
Show a sample answer
전화기 좀 써도 돼요?
The verb 쓰다 (to use) becomes 써도 돼요? because the stem ends in ㅡ, which takes -어도. Adding 좀 makes it softer.
To ask for permission in Korean, use -아도/어도 돼요? and respond with 네, 돼요 to allow or 안 돼요 to deny. Remember this is for permission, not ability.
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