In this workshop you will practice asking permission in Japanese and understanding the reply. You will hear short recorded lines for borrowing something and for asking about a seat. You will also meet a polite yes and a soft refusal that offers another option. The goal is to answer naturally without guessing from English word order.
Asking to Borrow Something
Start with the short request «借りてもいいですか。». In English it means 'Can I borrow it?' The speaker is asking permission, not stating a fact. A common polite reply is «どうぞ。», which means 'Sure. / Go ahead.' Another accepting reply is «いいですよ。», meaning 'That's fine. / Sure.' If the answer is no, you may hear «すみません、ちょっと…。», which means 'Sorry, that's a bit…' This is a soft refusal; the speaker does not finish the sentence. Listen for the tone: a short request followed by a short reply. Do not assume the reply is yes just because it is short.
A Full Exchange: Pen and Seat
Now listen to a longer exchange. Speaker A says «すみません、ペンを借りてもいいですか。», which means 'Excuse me, can I borrow your pen?' Speaker B answers «はい、どうぞ。», meaning 'Yes, go ahead.' Later, speaker A says «ありがとうございます。ここに座ってもいいですか。», which means 'Thank you. May I sit here?' Speaker B replies «すみません、ちょっと…。あの席はどうですか。», meaning 'Sorry, that's a bit… How about that seat?' Notice that the second reply is not a plain yes. It refuses the first seat softly and suggests another seat. The word for 'that seat' points to a different place, not to the first one. When you practice, keep the order: request, reply, thanks and new request, second reply.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
借りてもいいですか。
Can I borrow it?
ka-ri-te mo i-i de-su ka
どうぞ。
Sure. / Go ahead.
dō-zo
いいですよ。
That's fine. / Sure.
i-i de-su yo
すみません、ちょっと…。
Sorry, that's a bit…
su-mi-ma-sen, cho-tto…
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
すみません、ペンを借りてもいいですか。
Excuse me, can I borrow your pen?はい、どうぞ。
Yes, go ahead.ありがとうございます。ここに座ってもいいですか。
Thank you. May I sit here?すみません、ちょっと…。あの席はどうですか。
Sorry, that's a bit… How about that seat?Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided Borrowing Exchange
You are at a desk. You need a pen. Your partner has a pen. Use the recorded lines to ask and answer.
Your task: Read the request «借りてもいいですか。» aloud. Your partner replies with «どうぞ。». Then switch roles: your partner reads «借りてもいいですか。» and you reply with «いいですよ。». Say each line clearly and wait for the reply before you answer.
Choose the Right Reply
You will hear a request and then choose a suitable reply from the recorded lines. Imagine a classmate asks to borrow your pen.
Your task: The request is «すみません、ペンを借りてもいいですか。». Which reply fits: «はい、どうぞ。» or «すみません、ちょっと…。あの席はどうですか。»? Say your choice aloud. Then imagine a different scene: someone asks «ありがとうございます。ここに座ってもいいですか。» about a seat, but that seat is not available. Which reply fits now: «はい、どうぞ。» or «すみません、ちょっと…。あの席はどうですか。»? Say your choice aloud.
Recall the Full Exchange
Work with a partner. One person is the visitor who asks. The other person is the person who answers. Use only the recorded lines.
Your task: The visitor says «すみません、ペンを借りてもいいですか。». The other person replies «はい、どうぞ。». The visitor then says «ありがとうございます。ここに座ってもいいですか。». The other person replies «すみません、ちょっと…。あの席はどうですか。». After you finish, swap roles and repeat the same order. Do not change the order of the lines.
Common questions
What does the short reply «どうぞ。» mean?
«どうぞ。» means 'Sure. / Go ahead.' It accepts the request. It is a short, polite yes, so you can use it after a request like «借りてもいいですか。».
Is «すみません、ちょっと…。あの席はどうですか。» a yes or a no?
«すみません、ちょっと…。あの席はどうですか。» is a soft no. It means 'Sorry, that's a bit… How about that seat?' The speaker does not accept the first seat and instead points to another seat. So it is not a plain yes.
Sources and further reading
- japanese: asking for permission with canChecked September 2026
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