ボス が ねて いる あいだ に、テレビを み ても いい です。
bosu ga nete iru aida ni, terebi o mi te mo ii desu.
It’s okay to watch TV while the boss is sleeping.
Listen up. When you use てもいいですか, you’re basically sayin’, “Is it cool if I do this?” You’re not asking for a favor. You’re asking for the green light, the a-okay. It’s like when a rookie wants to join the crew and asks the OG, “Can I roll with y’all?” He ain’t begging; he’s showin’ respect and askin’ if it’s permitted. This ain’t about being weak; it’s about followin’ the code and gettin’ the nod from the top dog.
Aight, check out this table to see how you gotta switch up the verbs to get your message across.
| Verb Type | Japanese (Hiragana) | Romaji | English Translation |
| う Verbs | かきます | kakimasu | to write |
| かいて も いい です | kaite mo ii desu | May I write? | |
| る Verbs | たべます | tabemasu | to eat |
| たべて も いい です | tabete mo ii desu | May I eat? | |
| Irregular Verbs | します | shimasu | to do |
| して も いい です | shite mo ii desu | May I do? | |
| きます | kimasu | to come | |
| きて も いい です | kite mo ii desu | May I come? |
Peep the table. The trick is gettin’ that verb into its て-form. For most verbs ending in ~u (like かいます or まちます), you gotta change the endin’ to a sound that flows with “て.” For most verbs endin’ in ~ru (like みます or ねます), you just drop the る and add て. The two irregulars, します and きます, got their own special rules, so you just gotta memorize ’em like you memorize your crew’s secret handshake. Once you got the verb in its て-form, you just slap on もいいです and you’re good to go.
Think of this grammar like asking for permission to enter a rival crew’s turf. You can’t just stroll in like you own the place. You gotta send a message first, show some respect, and ask, “Is it cool if I come through?” If they say いいですよ (ii desu yo), you’re good to go. If they say no, you better back the hell up unless you wanna start some real beef. てもいいですか is your way of checkin’ the vibe before you make a move, so you don’t step on anyone’s toes.
Aight, here’s some new vocab to get you fluent in the language of the streets.
さつたば (Satsutaba)
English: Stack of bills; wad of cash.
When I’m talkin’ ’bout a satsutaba, I ain’t talkin’ ’bout no chump change. This is the big money, the kinda bread you count with a rubber band, know what I’m sayin’? You got a big score, you get a fat stack like this. It’s that payday feelin’ when the paper’s so thick you can’t even fold it right. This is what you hustle for, straight up.
さいばんかん (Saibankan)
English: Judge.
A saibankan is that dude sittin’ up on the high chair in the courtroom, wearin’ the black robe. He the man makin’ the calls, sayin’ who’s guilty and who’s walkin’. He ain’t part of the street game, nah. He the one who holds all the power when it comes to the law. You gotta face him when you get caught, and he decides your fate.
じしゅ する (Jishu suru)
English: To surrender; to turn oneself in.
When you jishu suru, you goin’ straight to the cops on your own two feet, no chase, no nothin’. You know the heat is on you, and you ain’t got nowhere to run. It’s when you give up the fight and face the music. It’s a bold move, maybe you cuttin’ a deal, or maybe you just tired of runnin’. You showin’ up, sayin’, “I’m here.”
さぼる (Saboru)
English: To skip work or school; to slack off.
When you saboru, you ain’t showin’ up when you supposed to. You got class at 8 a.m., but you ain’t there. You got a job, but you chillin’ somewhere else. It’s that sneaky move when you ditch your responsibilities to do somethin’ else that’s more fun. It’s a quick break from the grind, but you know you gotta face the consequences later.
たばこ を すう (Tabako o suu)
English: To smoke a cigarette.
Tabako o suu, that’s just lightin’ up a cigarette and takin’ a hit. It’s a common thing on the block, a quick moment to chill and clear your head. You see cats on the street corner, outside the club, just puffin’ away. It’s a habit for many, a way to take a breath before you get back to the hustle.
Peep these sentences. They’re funny, they’re real, and they’ll help you remember this grammar for life.
ちょっと トイレ に いって も いい です か？
Chotto toire ni itte mo ii desu ka?
Is it cool if I hit the head for a minute?
もう かえって も いい です か？
Mou kaette mo ii desu ka?
Can I bounce now?
この くるま を つかって も いい です か？
Kono kuruma o tsukatte mo ii desu ka?
Can I use this whip?
ここで たばこ を すって も いい です か？
Koko de tabako o sutte mo ii desu ka?
Is it cool if I light up here?
となり に すわって も いい です か？
Tonari ni suwatte mo ii desu ka?
Is it alright if I post up next to you?
この しょるい を みて も いい です か？
Kono shorui o mite mo ii desu ka?
Can I peep these documents?
こんしゅう の しごと を さぼって も いい です か？
Konshuu no shigoto o sabotte mo ii desu ka?
Can I flake on work this week?
けいさつ に じしゅ し ても いい ですか？
keisatsu ni jishu shi te mo ii desu ka?
Is it okay if I turn myself in to the police?
さいばんかん の まえ で うそ を つい ても いい ですか？
saibankam no mae de uso o tsui te mo ii desu ka?
Is it okay to lie in front of the judge?
ボス、その さつたば、かぞえ ても いい ですか？
Bosu, sono satsutaba, kazoe te mo ii desu ka?
Boss, is it okay if I count that wad of bills?
Stay dangerous, my friend. Peace out.peep these sentences. They’re funny, they’re real, and they’ll help you remember this grammar for life.
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