“Permission” and “Capability” sense of “can”

7 comments

1. So there is strict command form that is te-form +はいけません。example:「ここで写真を撮ってはけません」which translates as “you may not take pictures here.”

   You can also use plain form +ことになる to express a law or someone outside of yourself who has made a decision. For example maybe it’s written school policy, 「授業中に計転電話を使ってはいけないことになっています」”during class you can’t use your phone.”

   If my understanding is incorrect, anyone, please feel free to correct me.

2. Yeah you can use Dekiru for permission too. You can also use “Shite ha ikenai” and on signs and things you will just see Kinshi

   (Sorry my work computer refuses to activate its Japanese keyboard mode, which is insane to me I am literally in a Japanese office)

3. I think what you’re looking for is

   Verb(てform)+もいい

   For example,
   読めます= Can read (ability to)

   読んでもいい= May read (permission to)

   Can also be used to ask for permission by adding a simple ですか, this is a very important structure to remember.

   [Here’s a link that goes into more detail with examples](https://www.learn-japanese-adventure.com/japanese-grammar-permission-prohibition.html)

   For more strict prohibitions, in addition to the other commenter’s suggestions I would also add
   Negative てform – e.g. 読まないで(ください) = don’t read it(please)

   Also plain form verb + な in a very stern tone is a strict “you must not do it” – e.g. 読むな

4. I think your question has been answered in other comments, but I wanted to let you know that the particle use in the examples you gave is a little unnatural. It would be more natural to say 「俺はカタカナが読めます」and「私は辛い食べ物が食べられます。」

5. is there any japanese community in where everyone use japanese in reddit?

6. てもいいです – “you may,” is the most common form:

   お手洗いに行ってもいいですか。May I go to the restroom.

   You might also hear 行ってもかまいませんか or 行ってもよろしいですか, both of which are progressively more polite. A more casual way of saying the same is 行っていい?.

   To give permission, just drop the か or questioning tone.

   てはいけません – “you may not,” is a rather stern prohibition, coming from someone in authority (teacher, police officer…)

   お手洗いに行ってはいけません。You mustn’t use go to the restroom.

   だめです or just plain だめ instead of いけません are more causal sounding. Still, these are rather brusque, and sound like a parent scolding a child.

   From one adult to another when there isn’t authority (your equals or speaking to a superior), ないでください might be said instead.

   お手洗いに行かないでください。Please do not go to the restroom.

   Dropping ください makes it more casual.

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