If you come up with an idea and hope to do it, you usually have to ask permission for it! Whether it is with your family or at school or work, you will often have to ask to get what you want because other people cannot guess what you desire. In these cases, how can you ask for permission? Below are several ways – and the situations in which to use them – that you can ask to do something.
如果你想出了一个主意,并希望去做,你通常必须征得许可!无论是和你的家人在一起,还是在学校或工作中,你常常不得不要求得到你想要的,因为别人猜不出你想要什么。在这种情况下,你怎么能请求许可?下面是几种你可以要求做某事的方法以及使用它们的情况。

1. You have an idea of what you want to do and want to be polite
你知道你想做什么,想有礼貌

All three phrases have the same meaning, but each of them has a slightly different effect when it comes to how polite you are being.
这三个短语的意思都是一样的,但是每一个都有一个稍微不同的效果,当谈到你有多礼貌的时候。

May I (please)…?
我能...吗?

This is usually very polite, and used when you are asking someone who has authority over you for something. To make it even more polite, add the please after asking it.
这通常是非常有礼貌的,当你向对你有权威的人要东西的时候使用。为了更加礼貌,请在询问后加上“请”。

Examples
例子

May I please use the restroom? /May I go to the park with my friends today please? /May I look over this contract and discuss it with my family members before signing it and getting it back to you? /Can I… (please)?
我可以用一下洗手间吗?/今天我可以和朋友们一起去公园吗?/我可以看一下这份合同,和我的家人商量一下,然后再签下来还给你吗?/我可以…(请)吗?

Asking can you do something is more direct than using may or could. In the case of a very formal situation, it may be better to stick with the other ways of asking the question, but it is acceptable in many situations. If you want to be politer, it is best to add please into the sentence, especially when you are talking to someone who has authority over you.
问你能做些什么比用may或could更直接。在非常正式的情况下,最好坚持用其他方式提问,但在许多情况下都是可以接受的。如果你想礼貌一点,最好在句子中加上“请”,尤其是当你和对你有权威的人谈话时。

Examples
例子

Can I use your pen please? /Can I spend my weekend in Portland before traveling to Seattle? /Can I please see the detailed plans for your kitchen remodeling? /Could I… (please)?
我能用一下你的钢笔吗?/我能在去西雅图之前在波特兰度周末吗?/我能看看你们厨房改造的详细计划吗?/我可以…(请)吗?

Asking something with could is a gentler way to ask than can I. It is used the same way as can.
用罐头问东西是比我问得更温和的方式。它的用法和用罐头一样。

Examples
例子

Could I borrow some money to pay for dance class and pay you back next week? /Could I please watch the next episode of this show before we start cleaning the house? /Could I get another glass of water please?
我可以借点钱去上舞蹈课,下周还你吗?/在我们开始打扫房子之前,我可以看下一集吗?/请再给我一杯水好吗?

2. You know something that you could do and you really value the other person’s opinion
你知道一些你能做的事,你真的很重视别人的意见

For these phrases, you are suggesting something that you want to do, or something that you could do, and trying to see whether the person you ask is approving of your suggestion or not. Asking for permission in these ways shows that you value the other person’s opinion. Even though you already have an idea of what to do, you still want them to weigh in – to provide their opinion – on which you will base your decision. These are great phrases to use if speaking to a teacher at school or a boss at work. They show that you are not asking them to come up with the ideas for you, just to help guide your ideas in a way that works for everyone.
对于这些短语,你是在暗示你想做的事情,或者你可以做的事情,并试图看看你问的人是否同意你的建议。以这种方式请求许可表明你重视对方的意见。即使你已经知道该做什么,你仍然希望他们参与进来——提供他们的意见——你将以此为基础做出决定。如果你在学校和老师说话,或者在工作中和老板说话,这些都是很好的用语。它们表明,你并不是要求他们为你想出点子,只是帮助指导你的想法,以一种对每个人都有用的方式。

Would I be able to…?
我能…?

Asking if you are able to do something allows the person you ask to answer either yes or no. This question respects their time and expertise, and you do not have to take up more time than they are willing to give. This is a great way to ask for permission if you are short on time or have caught the person at a busy time. Asking this way is a great lead up question to adding in a reason why you think a certain way, which can help the person you ask better understand why you suggest what you suggest. It also allows them to give you an alternative and explain why they think another way, instead.
问你是否有能力做某事可以让你问的人回答“是”或“否”。这个问题尊重他们的时间和专业知识,你不必占用他们愿意花费的时间。这是一个很好的方式来请求许可,如果你是短时间或已抓到的人在繁忙的时间。用这种方式提问是一个很好的引导性问题,可以帮助你问的人更好地理解你为什么要提出你的建议。它还允许他们给你一个选择,并解释为什么他们会用另一种方式思考。

Examples
例子

Would I be able to switch the color palates for the two projects? I think they fit together better that way. /Would I be able to turn this essay in on Monday next week? I will be out of town on Tuesday, when the paper is due. /Would I be able to ask you to give me a hand with lifting this cabinet? It is a little heavy. /Do you mind if I…?
我可以为这两个项目切换颜色口味吗?我觉得那样更合身。/我下星期一能把这篇文章交上来吗?星期二报纸到期时,我将出城。/我能请你帮我提一下这个柜子吗?有点重。/你介意我…?

While the previous question asks for the opinion of the person, this question asks whether they will be bothered in you do something. The purpose of asking for permission this way is to show that you do not want to become a burden for this person. You can ask if someone minds that you do something at school or at work, and this question is also commonly used when asking a stranger if you can play your music out loud, take an empty seat at their table, etc.
前一个问题问的是别人的意见,这个问题问的是他们是否会因为你做了什么而烦恼。这样请求许可的目的是为了表明你不想成为这个人的负担。你可以问别人是否介意你在学校或工作中做某事,这个问题也常用于问陌生人你是否可以大声播放音乐,在他们的桌子上坐一个空位子等等。

When you ask if someone minds that you do something, you show a little more determination to do it. you are not asking for their permission the way Would I be able to does; instead, you generally have made up your mind and just want to make sure you will not bother the other person.
当你问别人是否介意你做某事时,你表现出更多的决心去做。你没有像我那样征求他们的同意;相反,你通常已经下定决心了,只是想确保你不会打扰其他人。

Examples
例子

Do you mind if I sit here with you? /Do you mind if I have a snack? I haven’t eaten all morning. 、Do you mind if I rearrange your books for you? They seem a little bit messy. /Do you think I should…?
你介意我和你坐在一起吗?/你介意我吃点零食吗?我一上午都没吃东西。介意我帮你重新整理一下你的书吗?它们看起来有点乱。/你认为我应该…?

With this question, you show a little more reliance on the opinion of the person that you are asking. When you ask if you should do something, it shows that you have a tentative idea of it, but you are really not sure and will probably take their suggestion. Whether or not you should ask for permission this way depends on the situation and your relationship with the person that you are asking. If you are in a business setting with your boss, it is often better to avoid this way of asking for permission because it shows that you are too timid. However, it is a good way to ask for advice from a friend.
有了这个问题,你表现出对你所问的人的意见的一点依赖。当你问你是否应该做某事时,这表明你对它有一个初步的想法,但你真的不确定,可能会接受他们的建议。你是否应该这样请求许可取决于你所请求的人的情况和你的关系。如果你和老板在一起做生意,通常最好避免这种请求许可的方式,因为这表明你太胆小了。不过,向朋友请教是个好办法。

Examples
例子

Do you think I should go to this party with him or not? /Do you think I should just let this go because we will have to work together again next time? /Do you think I should buy the purple shirt or the blue hat? /What do you think if I…?
你认为我是否应该和他一起去参加这个聚会?/你认为我应该放手吗,因为我们下次还得一起工作?/你认为我应该买紫色衬衫还是蓝色帽子?/如果我…,你会怎么想…?

With this question, you are again being a little more assertive. However, this assertiveness is mixed with a genuine desire to know what the other person thinks about it. If you come across a problem when you are working, this is a great way to discuss it with your boss. Instead of trying to come up with a perfect idea and just having them sign off on the solution, you are instead asking them to have a conversation with you so you can pick their brain – or really ask them questions to help you understand their thinking – and see what could work and what could not. Even though this comes across as a yes or no question, it will usually lead to your boss telling you a lot more about the way that they think. This question is a good mix between showing that you have expertise and you have thought about a solution to the problem, but also making sure you hear what they have to say about it.
有了这个问题,你又变得更加自信了。然而,这种自信与一种真正的渴望混合在一起,那就是想知道对方是怎么想的。如果你在工作中遇到问题,这是和老板讨论的好方法。与其试图提出一个完美的想法,让他们在解决方案上签字,不如让他们与你进行对话,这样你就可以挑选他们的大脑——或者真的问他们问题,帮助你理解他们的想法——然后看看什么能起作用,什么不能起作用。即使这是一个“是”或“否”的问题,它通常会导致你的老板告诉你更多关于他们思考的方式。这个问题是一个很好的混合体,既表现出你有专业知识,又考虑了解决问题的方法,同时也确保你听到了他们对这个问题的看法。

Examples
例子

What do you think if I ask the marketing department to redesign this ad and target a different audience than before? /What do you think if I switch the agendas for the morning and the afternoon, so that people will be more awake when they hear about the more important information? /What do you think if I spend more time working on the train project and give my responsibilities on the bus project to someone else?
如果我要求市场部重新设计这则广告,并瞄准与以前不同的受众,你会怎么想?/如果我把上午和下午的日程换一下,这样当人们听到更重要的信息时会更清醒,你觉得怎么样?/如果我把更多的时间花在火车项目上,把我在公共汽车项目上的责任交给别人,你会怎么想?

3. You really want to do something, you don’t know what they will say, and you need or really want them to say yes
你真的想做点什么,你不知道他们会说什么,你需要或者真的想让他们说是

This category of ways to ask for permission are more assertive than the ones before. Instead of relying too much on what the other person might think of you, you are instead pushing them a little to go along with what you say. Most people will agree with you if you ask for permission using these sentences because they show that you are committed to the ideas already.
这类请求许可的方式比以前更加自信。你不是过分依赖别人对你的看法,而是让他们听你的话。如果你请求允许使用这些句子,大多数人都会同意你的观点,因为它们表明你已经致力于这些想法。

Unless they have a specific and strong reason to say no, you will likely get your way. However, this does not mean that people will be happy about agreeing, or that people will respect your authority. These questions are best used when you are the boss, or you are the one who should be making all the decisions.
除非他们有明确而有力的理由拒绝,否则你很可能会得逞。然而,这并不意味着人们会乐意同意,或者人们会尊重你的权威。当你是老板,或者你是应该做所有决定的人时,最好使用这些问题。

I think I’m going to… Is that okay?
我想我会…没事吧?

Saying that you think you are going to do something is a little gentler, and asking whether that would be okay is a great way to check what the other person will think of what you do. However, if you want to be more aggressive, you do not have to ask whether it is okay that you do something.
说你认为你将要做某事是有点温和,问这是否可以是一个很好的方式来检查别人会怎么看你做了什么。然而,如果你想更具攻击性,你不必问你做某事是否可以。

Examples
例子

I think I’m going to take my car to the shop tomorrow morning and then ride the bus to work. Is that okay? /I think I’m going to take two weeks for vacation starting next Monday. Is that okay? /I think I’m going to buy this piece of art for our living room. Is that okay? /I believe I will… Okay?
我想我明天早上开车去商店,然后坐公共汽车去上班。可以吗?/我想从下周一开始我要休假两周。可以吗?/我想我要为我们的客厅买这件艺术品。可以吗?/我相信我会…好吗?

Believing that you will do something is a little bit more assertive and sure than thinking that you will do something. Asking for permission this way shows that you pretty sure about what you want to do, and in some circumstances, may not actually care what the other person thinks. Sometimes, because of how sure you may sound about your decision, this question may come off as a little bit rude. To avoid this, make sure the okay that you ask at the end of the question doesn’t sound like it was added on just so you don’t sound rude.
相信自己会做某事比认为自己会做某事更有自信。以这种方式请求许可,表明你对自己想做的事情非常确定,在某些情况下,可能并不在乎对方的想法。有时候,因为你对自己的决定听起来很肯定,这个问题可能会显得有点粗鲁。为了避免这一点,确保你在问题的最后问的“好”听起来不像是加上去的,这样你就不会显得粗鲁了。

Examples
例子

I believe I will try to finish the project before I go to sleep. Okay? /I believe I will have more time to pick up the dry cleaning and stop by the grocery store tomorrow after work. Okay? /I believe I will be better off traveling to Japan and staying longer than trying to add in a trip to China or South Korea as well. Okay? /I will… Is that alright? (Or, is it alright to…)
我相信我会在睡觉前完成这个项目。可以?/我相信明天下班后我会有更多的时间去干洗店买东西。可以?/我相信我去日本旅行和停留的时间比去中国或韩国旅行还要长。可以?/我会的…可以吗?(或者,可以…)

Similar to the above, asking for permission in this way shows that you have already made up your mind. If you add Is that alright? At the end, it shows that you are a little bit more sensitive.
与上述类似,以这种方式申请许可,说明你已经下定决心了。如果你再加上,可以吗?最后,它表明你有点敏感。

Examples
例子

I will buy the cotton candy you want from the online store. Is that alright? /I will take out the trash tomorrow, so put the things that you don’t need in there before then. Is that alright? /I will be in New York City the second week of July. Is it alright to stay at your house during that time? /What would you say if I…?
我会从网上商店买你想要的棉花糖。可以吗?/我明天会把垃圾拿出来,所以在那之前把你不需要的东西放进去。可以吗?/七月的第二周我将在纽约。在这段时间呆在你家可以吗?/如果我…,你会怎么说…?

Out of all the ways to ask permission in this blog post, this is the one that is the most assertive. While this question does not outright say that you will do what you are thinking of doing regardless of what the other person says, it does show that you have already strongly made up your mind in favor of whatever it is that you want to do. You likely will not change your mind, even if the other person has something important and useful to say. Instead of asking permission, sometimes this question is used to warm someone up to the idea of something that you have already done. If someone asks you this, you can be suspicious about whatever idea they ask you about.
在这篇博文中,所有的请求许可的方式中,这是最自信的一个。虽然这个问题并没有直截了当地说,不管对方说什么,你都会做你想做的事,但它确实表明,你已经下定决心支持你想做的事。你很可能不会改变主意,即使对方有重要和有用的话要说。有时候,这个问题不是征求别人的同意,而是用来让别人对你已经做过的事情产生好感。如果有人问你这个问题,你可能会怀疑他们问你的任何想法。

Examples
例子

What would you say if I sell my car and commit to using only rideshare apps when I need to get around? /What would you say if I dropped out of college to try out this idea that I have? /What would you say if I told you all that we would not be giving out Christmas bonuses this year because our company needs the money to invest somewhere else?
如果我卖了我的车,并承诺在需要时只使用共享应用程序,你会怎么说?/如果我大学辍学去尝试我的想法,你会怎么说?/如果我告诉你们,我们今年不会发放圣诞奖金,因为我们公司需要钱投资其他地方,你会怎么说?

4. You already know they will say yes
你已经知道他们会答应的

Don’t mind if I do!
我不介意!

Usually, you will say this sentence after someone has already offered something to you, or said that you could do it. They have already welcomed what it is that you want to do, so you can respond Don’t mind if I do! To show them that you would like to take them up on that offer.
通常,你会在有人已经向你提出某件事,或者说你可以做的时候说这句话。他们已经欢迎了你想做的事,所以你可以回应,不介意我做!向他们表明你愿意接受他们的提议。

Examples
例子

Taylor: I’m full already, so would you like to have the rest of my fries?
泰勒:我已经吃饱了,你要不要吃我剩下的薯条?

Bob: Don’t mind if I do!
鲍勃:我不介意!

Harry: I bought these baseball tickets because I thought that I would have to time to go tomorrow night, but I just had an emergency meeting come up during that time. Would you like them instead?
哈里:我买了这些棒球票,因为我想明晚我得抽空去,但那期间我刚开了一个紧急会议。你想要它们吗?

Liam: Don’t mind if I do!
利亚姆:我不介意!

5. You are throwing out ideas
你在胡思乱想

If you are beginning to collect different ideas, brainstorming, and just wanting to see if the person you are talking to likes any of them, you can use some of these sentences. They don’t put any pressure on either of you to like or dislike the ideas, and asking in such an open-ended way means that you can get great feedback on the ideas.
如果你开始收集不同的想法,集思广益,只是想看看你正在交谈的人是否喜欢其中的任何一个,你可以使用这些句子中的一些。他们不会给你们任何一个人施加任何压力,让你们喜欢或不喜欢这些想法,以这种开放式的方式提问,意味着你们可以从中得到很好的反馈。

Should I…?
我应该...吗?

Examples
例子

Should I go to the store and look at more color plates for the wall paint tomorrow? I can’t decide on a color. /Should I focus on getting to all the museums or just eating the best food in the city? /Should I pack for winter weather or summer weather? /How about I…?
我明天应该去商店多看些彩绘板吗?我不能决定颜色。/我应该集中精力去所有的博物馆还是只吃城里最好的食物?/我应该在冬天还是夏天收拾行李?/我…怎么样…?

Examples
例子

How about I drop you off first so you can stand in line? /How about I rearrange the designs and you can look at them again tomorrow?
我先送你下车让你排队怎么样?/我重新安排一下设计,你明天再看怎么样?

How about I do this again another time? /What about…?
我下次再做一次怎么样?/那…?

Examples
例子

We have been focusing all our attention on the marketing of the product. What about changing our focus to something else? /What about watching an episode of a TV show instead of watching a movie? /What about using digital magazines, books, and newspapers instead of print ones? /What do you say about…?
我们一直把全部注意力集中在产品的销售上。把注意力转移到别的事情上怎么样?/看一集电视剧而不是看电影怎么样?/用数字杂志、书籍和报纸代替印刷品怎么样?/你觉得…?

Examples
例子

What do you say about hiring Kelsey as our babysitter? /What do you say about using the extra profits from this year to invest in more marketing? /What do you say about shifting our target audience from all children to just girls?
请凯尔西做我们的保姆怎么样?/你认为用今年的额外利润来投资更多的市场营销怎么样?/你觉得把我们的目标受众从所有的孩子变成女孩怎么样?