可以: may, can

可以 is “may, is allowed” and a polite request: 我可以坐这儿吗？ “No” is 不可以 (or 不能): 这里不可以照相. It isn't about skill: “know how” is 会, while 可以 is “allowed, nothing stops you”.

Examples

• 我可以坐这儿吗？ Wǒ kěyǐ zuò zhèr ma? May I sit here?
• 这里不可以照相。 Zhèlǐ bù kěyǐ zhàoxiàng. You can't take photos here.
• 你可以帮我一下吗？ Nǐ kěyǐ bāng wǒ yíxià ma? Could you help me for a moment?

More in this chapter

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