Easy Korean - Level 6, Unit 4: Do you mind if I...? (-아/어/여도 돼요?)

In Level 3, we learned that -아/어/여도 means "Even if." When you combine it with 되다 (to be okay / to work), you get the structure -아/어/여도 되다, which literally means "Even if I do [X], is it okay?"

This is the standard way to ask for permission: "May I...?" or "Do you mind if I...?"

How to Conjugate

Just like the present tense, add -아도/어도/여도 to the verb stem, and finish with 돼요? (polite) or 될까요? (more polite/soft).

• 앉다 (to sit) -> 앉 + 아도 돼요? = 앉아도 돼요? (May I sit here?)
• 먹다 (to eat) -> 먹 + 어도 돼요? = 먹어도 돼요? (May I eat this?)
• 열다 (to open) -> 열 + 어도 돼요? = 열어도 돼요? (Do you mind if I open it?)
• 하다 (to do) -> 하 + 여도 돼요? = 해도 돼요? (May I do it?)

Answering: "Yes, you may" or "No, you may not"

• Yes: 네, 앉아도 돼요. (Yes, you may sit.) / 네, 하세요. (Yes, please do.)
• No: 아니요, 앉으면 안 돼요. (No, you shouldn't sit.) (To deny permission, use -(으)면 안 되다. We will practice this more later!)

Using "-아/어/여도 될까요?"

If you want to sound more polite, cautious, or soft when asking for permission, change 돼요? to 될까요?.

• 사진을 찍어도 돼요? (May I take a picture?)
• 사진을 찍어도 될까요? (Would it be okay if I take a picture?)

Example Sentences

1. 여기 잠깐 앉아도 될까요? (Do you mind if I sit here for a moment?)
2. 창문을 열어도 돼요? (May I open the window?)
3. 내일 일찍 가도 돼요? (Is it okay if I go early tomorrow?)
4. 이거 한 번 입어봐도 돼요? (May I try this on once?)