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てもいい (temoii) Meaning Japanese Grammar - It's Fine Even If

Author Anna Baffa Volpe for article 'てもいい (temoii) Meaning Japanese Grammar -  It's Fine Even If'

Anna Baffa Volpe

The expression てもいい (temoii) means it's fine even if, it's ok even if, it's also okay.

てもいい is used when authorisation is given to perform an action or when we ask for permission to perform an action.

In this post we are going to learn more about the meaning of てもいい, how it is formed, and when てもいい is used through real example sentences.


How てもいい is formed

てもいい is used with nouns, adjectives and verbs.

It's formed by:

Literally: even if you do this way, it's ok

て form of the Verb+もいい

Example with the Ichidan Verb ()める decide:

決める
決め
決め
決め
決めてもいい

あなたが()めてもいいよ。

You can decide.

In informal and colloquial context the particle is often omitted.

Example with the Godan Verb 使(つか)use:

(でん)()使(つか)ってもいい。

You can use the phone.

Noun+でもいい

With the noun we use the て form of the copula だ which becomes .

カレーライスでもいい。

It's ok even if curry rice.

い Adjective without い joined to く+てもいい

In the case of い Adjective, it is used the adverbial form, obtained by removing the and then replacing it with .

高い
高くてもいい

(すこ)(たか)くてもいい。

I don't mind if it's a little expensive.

な Adjective without な+でもいい

As for the noun, it is used : the て form of the copula だ + もいい.

複雑な
複雑
複雑でもいい

(ふく)(ざつ)でもいいよ。

It's ok even if it is complicated.

てもいい to give permission

てもいい is commonly used when we give permission, authorisation to others to do something.

あなたはもう(いえ)(かえ)ってもいいですよ。

You can go home now.

このコピー()(がく)(せい)使(つか)ってもいいですよ。

Students can use this copy machine.

この()()でお(べん)(とう)()べてもいいです。

You can have lunch in this room.

The verb have lunch is translated as お(べん)(とう)()べる eat the bentō, the lunch-box

てもいい to ask for permission

This form is also used to ask for permission, the authorisation to perform an action.

  • てもいい? you can use the same form in an interrogative tone or
  • てもいいですか question obtained with the copula です and the interrogative particle か

A

レポートはあしたでもいいですか。

Can I do the report tomorrow?

B

はい、あしたでもいいです。

Yes, tomorrow is fine.

今日(きょう)()()(およ)ぎに()ってもいいですか。

Can I go swimming this afternoon?

Examples of てもいい

ちょっと(ぜん)(ぜん)(かん)(けい)ないこと()いてもいい?

Can I ask you something completely unrelated?

いい(てん)()だから(まど)をあけてもいいですか。

It's a beautiful day, can I open the window?

使(つか)いたければ(ぼく)(つくえ)使(つか)ってもいいよ。

You can use my desk if you want.