Page 263 - Easy Japanese - Learn to Speak Japanese Quickly! (TUTTLE)

enu-jī NG no good, not allowed

GRAMMAR NOTE Expressing Permission

Earlier, we learned that when the context is clear, we can ask for permission by
simply saying I’i desu ka. For example, if someone raises her camera and says

I’i desu ka, it’s clear that she wants permission to take pictures. If the context is
not clear, you should be more specific and use the -te form of the verb.
Shashin totte i’i desu ka. Is it okay if I take pictures?

It is common to add mo to the V -te form, which means “EVEN if you do V”.

e.g., Shashin totte mo i’i Is it okay even if I take pictures?
desu ka.

The other te-forms—/adjective-kute/ and /noun de/—are also used in this pattern
with or without /mo/.

Takakute mo i’i desu. It’s okay even if it’s expensive.
Eigo de mo i’i desu. It’s okay even if it’s English.

CULTURAL NOTE The Virtue of Holding Back

Enryo means hesitating out of politeness, which is one of the most highly valued
virtues in Japan. When offered something, you are usually expected to show
some enryo before accepting it. Thus, sometimes “no” may not mean “no” and
indicate enryo instead. To play it right, pay attention to tone of voice and facial

expressions.
You can urge someone not to worry about being polite by saying:
Enryo shinai de.
Enryo shinai de kudasai.
Dōzo, goenryo nasaranai de kudasai.

To accept the offer, the expression enryo naku “without hesitation” is commonly
used, e.g., Sō desu ka. Jā, enryo naku itadakimasu. “Are you sure? Then, I’ll

accept it without hesitation.”
On the other hand, enryo-shimasu indicates that you are politely declining an
invitation, e.g., Sumimasen kedo, enryo shimasu. “I’m sorry, but no thank you.”
X wa goenryo kudasai is a polite expression—more so than X kinshi—
commonly used to ask someone to refrain from doing X.