-아/어도 되다

How to use it

Gives or asks for permission: 'may, it's OK to'. As a question (-아/어도 돼요?) it asks 'May I…?'.

Forming it

Answer with 네, -아/어도 돼요 or 아니요, -(으)면 안 돼요.

Examples

• 선생님, 이 사전을 잠깐 써도 돼요?

  Teacher, may I use this dictionary for a moment?

• 다 끝났으면 먼저 집에 가도 돼요.

  If you're all done, you can go home first.

Compared with similar patterns

-(으)면 안 되다 = must not (refusing permission). -아/어도 alone means 'even if'. -지 않아도 되다 = don't have to.

Related patterns

• -(으)면 안 되다 must not, not allowed to
• -아/어도 even if, even though
• -지 않아도 되다 don't have to, need not