If you’re like me and mostly want to speak Japanese, not read or write it, this post is for you. Everything here is written in romaji (the Romanized version of Japanese). If you’re interested in learning hiragana, katakana, or kanji, I recommend using other resources, or even asking ChatGPT for a custom plan.
(Feel free to check out the r/languagelearning and r/LearnJapanese subreddits for extra resources or recommendations).
🔰 I don’t have any certificates, just a learner sharing what I know, so if I get something wrong, feel free to double-check or correct me!
💬 I’m still learning Japanese too, (on my journey from bronze to grandmaster), I document everything in my weekly language progress logs.
Every week I post a page with:
- A short speaking video or update
- My test assessment
- Notes and improvements
- What rank I’m at (from Bronze to Grandmaster)
👉 Check out the Language Progress Glossary Here
This is an important and very common grammar form in Japanese. You’ll use it to ask for permission or check if something is okay for you to do.
Before you learn this, I recommend getting comfortable with the Te form, since this permission form is built directly from it.
👉 Learn the Te Form Here
How to Make the Permission Form
Steps:
- Conjugate the verb/adjective to the Te form.
- Add mo ii desu ka? to the end.
🧠 Note: The particle “mo” can mean “too/also” in other contexts, but here it’s part of the permission pattern. In casual speech, “mo” also pops up to indicate time, numbers, or playful frustration (especially in anime).
Levels of Politeness
There are a few variations of this form, ranging from casual to formal. You’ll most often hear “mo ii?” (casual) and “mo ii desu ka?” (polite), but it’s good to know the other patterns too.
Here’s what all of the levels look like:
1. … ii? (Most Casual)
2. … ii ka? (Casual / Slangy)
3. … mo ii? (Casual & Common)
4. … ii desu ka? (Polite, Without “mo”)
5. … mo ii desu ka? (Most Polite & Common)
1. + ii? (Most Casual)
- Drop everything except “ii” and add it to the end of the sentence.
- Friendly, very casual, and common among close friends.
- No “mo,” no “desu,” no “ka.”
Examples
- Tabete ii? – Can I eat it? / Can I eat now?
- Haitte ii? – Can I come in?
- Sutete ii? – Can I throw it away?
- Nonde ii? – Can I drink this?
- Motte ii? – Can I have it?
- Sawatte ii? – Can I touch it?
2. + ii ka? (Casual / Slangy)
- Add the question particle “ka” instead of “mo.”
- Sounds a bit rough and is more often used by men.
- Common in anime/manga, less so in polite conversation.
Examples
- Mite ii ka? – Can I look/watch now?
- Isoide ii ka? – Is it okay if I hurry?
- Awasete ii ka? – Can I join in?
- Katte ii ka? – Can I buy it?
- Kite ii ka? – Can I wear this?
- Yatte ii ka? – Can I do it?
3. + mo ii? (Casual & Common)
- The most common casual form you’ll hear in real-life conversations.
- Used with friends, family, and peers.
Examples
- Oyoide mo ii? – Can I swim now?
- Koko de matte mo ii? – Can I wait here?
- Denwa shite mo ii? – Can I call you?
- Haitte mo ii? – Can I enter?
- Ashite mo ii? – Can I play with it?
- Totte mo ii? – Can I take it?
4. + ii desu ka? (Polite, Without “mo”)
- A polite form that drops “mo” but keeps “desu ka.”
- Still polite, but slightly less formal than “mo ii desu ka?”
Examples
- Nette ii desu ka? – Can I sleep now?
- Tsukatte ii desu ka? – May I use it?
- Koko ni suwatte ii desu ka? – May I sit here?
- Kore wo akete ii desu ka? – May I open this?
- Kiite ii desu ka? – May I ask (a question)?
- Totte ii desu ka? – May I take it?
5. + mo ii desu ka? (Most Polite & Common in Formal Settings)
- Polite and safe for most situations, from work to strangers.
- One of the two main forms you’ll actually use daily.
Examples
- Yonde mo ii desu ka? – May I read it? / Is it okay if I read it?
- Tsukatte mo ii desu ka? – May I use this?
- Haitte mo ii desu ka? – May I come in?
- Shashin wo totte mo ii desu ka? – May I take a picture?
- Suwatte mo ii desu ka? – May I sit down?
- Denwa shite mo ii desu ka? – May I call?
Quick Recap
- Casual: mo ii?, ii?, ii ka?
- Polite: ii desu ka?, mo ii desu ka?
- Learn the Te form first — it’s the backbone of this grammar.
- For daily life, remember: mo ii? (casual) and mo ii desu ka? (polite).
🧠 Practice Tips:
- Make flashcards with verbs/adjectives + their -te forms and adding mo ii desu ka?
- Use ChatGPT to quiz you with conversations asking for permission.
- Try making your own sentences and get feedback!
🧱 Why I Learn This Way
While I continue learning Japanese and other languages, I also make money online through beermoney apps. It’s not much, but it helps me feel like I’m turning my free time into something more productive and fun.
👇 Check out my glossaries below
💸 Beermoney Glossary:
Curious how much money you can realistically make online from surveys, games, ads, and small tasks? Check out my Beermoney Glossary page, where I break down every app and site I’ve tried with videos, payment proof, and my personal experiences. I always recommend doing beermoney while watching shows, anime, gaming, or handling small tasks around the house.
👉 Beermoney reviews
📈 Monthly Earnings Tracker:
Want to see exactly what I cashed out every month? My Monthly Earnings Tracker has screenshots of my app cashouts, plus updates on my trading and investment accounts, all in one place, month by month.
👉 Monthly earnings
🌍 Language Learning Glossary:
Curious what languages I’m learning? Check out my Language Learning Glossary for weekly progress updates. I post short speaking videos, track my progress, share my personal study notes, and break down the rank criteria I follow.
👉 Language progress