▎可以, kĕyĭ, (Vaux), Permission (1)

 

Function 可以 indicates permission to perform an action.

1 放假的時候，你們可以來我家打籃球。

Fàngjià de shíhòu, nǐmen kěyǐ lái wǒ jiā dǎ lánqiú.

During days off, you can come to my house to play basketball.

2 王老師說我們任何時候都可以找他討論期末報告。

Wáng lǎoshī shuō wǒmen rènhé shíhòu dōu kěyǐ zhǎo tā tǎolùn qímò bàogào.

Teacher Wang said that we can find him at any time to discuss the final report.

3 我叫王美美，你可以叫我小美。

Wǒ jiào Wáng Měiměi, nǐ kěyǐ jiào wǒ Xiǎoměi.

My name is Wang Meimei. You can call me Xiaoměi.

 

Structures 可以 is an auxiliary verb and it precedes the verb.

Negation：

1 這支手錶是我父親留給我的，不可以賣。

Zhè zhī shǒubiǎo shì wǒ fùqīn liú gěi wǒ de, bù kěyǐ mài.

This watch was left to me by my father. I can’t sell it.

2 你不可以在圖書館裡面吃東西。

Nǐ bù kěyǐ zài túshūguǎn lǐmiàn chī dōngxi.

You cannot eat in the library.

3 先生，對不起，你不可以在這裡照相。

Xiānshēng, duìbùqǐ, nǐ bù kěyǐ zài zhèlǐ zhàoxiàng.

Sir, excuse me.You cannot take pictures here.

Questions：

1 A：我可以不可以去看你們的籃球比賽？

Wǒ kěyǐ bù kěyǐ qù kàn nǐmen de lánqiú bǐsài?

Can I go watch your basketball game?

B：沒問題！

Méi wèntí!

No problem.

2 A：可以借一隻筆嗎？

Kěyǐ jiè yì zhī bǐ ma?

May I borrow a pen from you?

B：可以啊。

Kěyǐ a.

Sure.

3 A：這是你的書嗎？我可以看看嗎？

Zhè shì nǐ de shū ma? Wǒ kěyǐ kànkàn ma?

Is this your book? Can I check it out?

B：對不起，那不是我的。

Duìbùqǐ, nà bú shì wǒ de.

Sorry, that’s not my book.

 

Usage When answering a question, 可以 alone suffices, like all cases of Vaux and V’s.

A：我可不可以後天開始上班？

Wǒ kě bù kěyǐ hòutiān kāishǐ shàngbān?

Can I start working the day after tomorrow?

B：可以。

Kěyǐ.

Yes, of course.