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N5

てもいい

It is alright/fine/okay even if, Can/may, ~ is also okay

お茶ちゃ冷つめたくてもいい?

Is cold tea okay?

Explanation

「てもいい」 has 2 uses

1Asking if it is OK

〜てもいいですか politely asks if you may; casually 〜てもいい?: 「これ、食べてもいいですか」 (May I eat this?).

お茶ちゃ冷つめたくてもいい?

Is cold tea okay?

焼やきそばでもいいですか?

Is yakisoba okay?

2Saying it is OK

Gives permission, or says something is fine too: 「帰ってもいいよ」 (You can go home), 「電車でもいい」 (The train is fine too).

高たかくてもいい。

It's fine if it's expensive.

電車でんしゃでもいい。

The train is fine too.

Mixed up with

Politeness levels when asking permission: friends 「〜てもいい?」; ordinary polite 「〜てもいいですか」; to elders and bosses, more polite 「〜てもよろしいでしょうか」 or 「〜て構いませんか」.

To refuse a request, a flat 「ダメです」 or 「〜てはいけません」 sounds harsh; Japanese people often say 「すみません、ちょっと…」 (Sorry, it's a bit difficult …).

Examples

1Asking if it is OK

  1. これ食たべてもいいの?

    Can I eat this?

  2. 焼やきそばでもいいですか?

    Is yakisoba okay?

2Saying it is OK

  1. 早はやくてもいいんです。

    It's fine if it's early.

  2. 高たかくてもいい。

    It's fine if it's expensive.

Tested 2 times in past papers

N3 · Dec 2018, Q47N3 · Jul 2013, Q48