How to Ask for Permission Politely in Korean: May I and Can I
Learn to ask permission in Korean with 아/어도 돼요 and 아/어도 될까요, including how to name the action you want to do and how this differs from asking for an object.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
Asking permission in Korean is not the same as asking for a thing. When you want a glass of water, you name the object. When you want to open a window, sit somewhere, or leave early, you name an action and ask whether doing it is acceptable. Korean does this with a verb ending plus the question pattern 아/어도 돼요? (a/eodo dwaeyo?), literally asking whether it is all right even if you do that action. This lesson teaches the pattern step by step, shows a more careful version for strangers and seniors, and gives you a short dialogue you can adapt today.
By the end, you can…
- ask permission to do an action using 아/어도 돼요?
- use the more careful form 아/어도 될까요? with strangers or seniors
- tell the difference between asking permission and asking for an object
- answer a permission question with 네, 돼요 or a polite refusal
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
창문을 열어도 돼요?
May I open the window?
changmun-eul yeoreo-do dwaeyo?
Everyday polite permission question. The verb 열다 (yeolda, to open) changes to 열어 (yeoreo) before -도 돼요.
여기 앉아도 돼요?
May I sit here?
yeogi anja-do dwaeyo?
Useful on buses, in cafés, or at a shared table. 앉다 (antda, to sit) becomes 앉아 (anja).
잠깐 쉬어도 될까요?
May I rest for a moment?
jamkkan swieodo doelkkayo?
The -될까요 form is softer and more careful. Good with teachers, bosses, or people you do not know well.
먼저 가도 돼요?
May I leave first?
meonjeo ga-do dwaeyo?
Said when you need to step out before others. 가다 (gada, to go) becomes 가 (ga).
네, 돼요.
Yes, that is fine.
ne, dwaeyo.
A simple yes answer to a permission question. 천천히 하세요 (cheonyeoni haseyo) is a warmer alternative.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
Take a verb stem and add -아도 돼요 or -어도 돼요. If the last vowel of the stem is ㅏ or ㅗ, use -아도 돼요: 가다 becomes 가도 돼요 (gado dwaeyo, may I go). Otherwise use -어도 돼요: 열다 becomes 열어도 돼요 (yeoreodo dwaeyo, may I open). 하다 verbs become 해도 돼요 (haedo dwaeyo), as in 전화해도 돼요? (jeonhwa haedo dwaeyo?, may I make a phone call?). For a more careful tone, replace 돼요 with 될까요: 앉아도 될까요? (anjado doelkkayo?, might I sit?).
When to use it
Use 아/어도 돼요? for permission to perform an action, not to receive an object. If you want the salt, you say 소금 좀 주세요 (sogeum jom juseyo, please give me the salt). If you want to open a window, you say 창문을 열어도 돼요? The action comes first, then the permission ending. With strangers, older people, or at work, choose 아/어도 될까요? to sound less direct. You can also add 실례합니다 (sillyehamnida, excuse me) before the question when approaching someone.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
실례합니다, 창문을 열어도 될까요?
Excuse me, may I open the window?sillyehamnida, changmun-eul yeoreodo doelkkayo?네, 돼요. 좀 추우세요?
Yes, that is fine. Are you a little cold?ne, dwaeyo. jom chuuseyo?네, 조금 추워요. 감사합니다.
Yes, I am a little cold. Thank you.ne, jogeum chuwoyo. gamsahamnida.천천히 하세요.
Take your time.cheonyeoni haseyo.A little context goes a long way
Korean permission questions often sound softer when you use the -될까요 ending, especially with someone older or in a workplace. Age and social distance matter: a student may use 아/어도 돼요? with a close friend, but 아/어도 될까요? with a teacher. A plain 네, 돼요 is fine, while a refusal is usually softened with a reason, such as 죄송하지만 안 돼요 (joesonghajiman an dwaeyo, sorry, but it is not possible).
One thing to watch for
Using 아/어도 돼요? to ask for an object, as in 물을 마셔도 돼요? when you simply want a glass of water.
Try this instead: That sentence asks permission to drink water, which can sound odd if you only want some water. For an object, use 주세요: 물 좀 주세요 (mul jom juseyo, please give me some water). Use 아/어도 돼요? only when you are asking whether an action is allowed, such as 여기서 물을 마셔도 돼요? (yeogiseo mureul masyeodo dwaeyo?, may I drink water here?).
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you ask, May I sit here?
Show a sample answer
여기 앉아도 돼요?
앉다 becomes 앉아 before -도 돼요. 여기 앉아도 될까요? is also correct and sounds more careful.
2Which is better with a teacher: 가도 돼요? or 가도 될까요?
Show a sample answer
가도 될까요?
The -될까요 ending is softer and more respectful. 가도 돼요? is not wrong, but it can sound more casual with a teacher.
3You want the salt, not permission to use it. What do you say?
Show a sample answer
소금 좀 주세요.
Asking for an object uses 주세요. 소금을 써도 돼요? would ask permission to use the salt, which is a different meaning.
To ask permission in Korean, put the action first and end with -아도 돼요? or the softer -아도 될까요?. Use 주세요 when you want an object, not permission.
Progress is saved on this browser.
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Put today’s Korean into a conversation with an AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr