In this workshop you will practice a short, polite exchange about taking photos. You will ask permission, understand a positive answer with a condition, and check whether a specific subject is allowed. The recordings give you the exact lines to use, so you can rehearse the exchange aloud before you try it in a real place.
Asking permission and understanding the answer
Start with a simple permission question. «可以拍照吗？» means "Can I take photos?" If you want to make the place clear, use «这里可以拍照吗？», which means "Can I take photos here?" A positive answer can be short: «可以，没问题。» means "Yes, no problem." A negative answer is also short: «不可以拍照。» means "You cannot take photos." When you want to be polite, open with an apology phrase. «请问，这里可以拍照吗？» means "Excuse me, can I take photos here?" Listen for the first word of the answer. A yes opens the door; a no closes it. If the answer is yes, you may still need to ask about a rule.
A condition and a follow-up question
A yes can come with a condition. «可以，但是请勿使用闪光灯。» means "Yes, but please do not use flash." The first part is positive, and the second part gives a restriction. After you hear that, you can thank the person and ask about a specific subject. «好的，谢谢。那可以拍佛像吗？» means "Okay, thank you. Can I photograph the Buddha statues?" This line combines thanks with a new permission question. The answer may be a clear no. «不可以，佛像禁止拍照。» means "No, photographing Buddha statues is prohibited." Notice that the subject stays the same: you asked about Buddha statues, and the answer is about Buddha statues. Keep the order: ask, listen, then ask your follow-up.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
可以拍照吗？
Can I take photos?
kěyǐ pāizhào ma?
这里可以拍照吗？
Can I take photos here?
zhèlǐ kěyǐ pāizhào ma?
可以，没问题。
Yes, no problem.
kěyǐ, méi wèntí.
不可以拍照。
You cannot take photos.
bù kěyǐ pāizhào.
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
请问，这里可以拍照吗？
Excuse me, can I take photos here?可以，但是请勿使用闪光灯。
Yes, but please do not use flash.好的，谢谢。那可以拍佛像吗？
Okay, thank you. Can I photograph the Buddha statues?不可以，佛像禁止拍照。
No, photographing Buddha statues is prohibited.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided exchange: ask and answer
You are a visitor at a temple. Your partner plays a staff member. Use the recordings as your script. Read your part aloud, then switch roles and read the other part.
Your task: Visitor: say «请问，这里可以拍照吗？». Staff: answer with «可以，但是请勿使用闪光灯。». Visitor: say «好的，谢谢。那可以拍佛像吗？». Staff: answer with «不可以，佛像禁止拍照。». After one round, swap roles and repeat the same order.
Reply comprehension: choose the matching answer
Read each situation and choose the best reply from the recordings. This checks whether you understand a yes, a no, and a yes with a condition.
Your task: 1. You ask «这里可以拍照吗？» and the staff member says «可以，没问题。». What does that mean? 2. You ask «可以拍照吗？» and the staff member says «不可以拍照。». What does that mean? 3. You ask «请问，这里可以拍照吗？» and the staff member says «可以，但是请勿使用闪光灯。». What does that mean?
Recall and role swap
Cover the recording list. You will recall the lines from memory, then swap roles with your partner. The order of the exchange does not change when you swap.
Your task: First, say the polite permission question from memory. Then say the answer that gives a condition. Then say the follow-up question about Buddha statues. Then say the final negative answer. After that, swap roles and repeat the same four lines in the same order.
Common questions
Can I practice alone if I do not have a partner?
Yes. You can play both roles yourself. Read the visitor line aloud, then read the staff line aloud. Then swap and read the other role. There is no automatic assessment, so use the answer key and success criteria to check yourself.
What should I listen for first in a reply?
Listen for the first word. A yes word opens the door, and a no word closes it. If the answer starts with a yes, keep listening because a condition may follow, such as a rule about flash.
Sources and further reading
- chinese: ask about photography rulesChecked September 2026
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