可不可以

kěbùkěyǐ

phrase #7,071

Meanings

1 can or cannot?
2 is it okay to...?
3 may I...?

Characters

to use; thereby (with 可: permitted)

Examples

我可不可以坐这里？

Wǒ kěbùkěyǐ zuò zhèlǐ?

May I sit here?

你可不可以帮我一个忙？

Nǐ kěbùkěyǐ bāng wǒ yīgè máng?

Could you do me a favor?

Tips

grammar

可不可以 is the A-not-A question form of 可以. This pattern works with other verbs: 行不行 (xíng bù xíng), 好不好 (hǎo bù hǎo), 能不能 (néng bù néng).

usage

可不可以 is softer and more polite than 能不能. Use 可不可以 for permission and 能不能 for ability or possibility.

Stroke Order

可 kě

不 bù

以 yǐ