「〜でもいい」- Permission and Suggestions

Explanation

「〜でもいい」 (demo ii) is a Japanese grammatical structure used to express permission, suggestions, or compromise. It is pronounced as (demo ii). This grammar pattern is commonly used to indicate that something is acceptable or to suggest that someone can do something.

Grammar Pattern

Grammar Point	Connection	Explanation
Verb Plain Form + でもいい	Verb Plain Form	Indicates permission or suggestion, meaning "it's okay to..." or "you can...".
い-Adjective Plain Form + くてもいい	い-Adjective Plain Form	Indicates permission or suggestion, meaning "it's okay to..." or "you can...".
な-Adjective Stem + でもいい	な-Adjective Stem	Indicates permission or suggestion, meaning "it's okay to..." or "you can...".
Noun + でもいい	Noun	Indicates permission or suggestion, meaning "it's okay to..." or "you can...".

Basic Usage

For example:

• 彼かれは来きてもいいです。
• Kare wa kite mo ii desu.
• It's okay for him to come.
  

Examples

Here are some examples using 「〜でもいい」 to help understand its usage.

• 明日あしたはテキストてきすとを持もってきてもいいです。
• Ashita wa tekisuto o motte kite mo ii desu.
• It's okay to bring the textbook tomorrow.
  

• その本ほん、読よんでもいいですか？
• Sono hon, yonde mo ii desu ka?
• Is it okay to read that book?
  

• 嫌いやなら断ことわってもいいです。
• Iya nara kotowatte mo ii desu.
• If you don't like it, it's okay to refuse.
  

• 君きみの代かわりに私わたしが行いってもいいよ。
• Kimi no kawari ni watashi ga itte mo ii yo.
• It's okay for me to go instead of you.
  

• メールめーるが面倒めんどうなら、電話でんわしてもいいですよ。
• Meeru ga mendou nara, denwa shite mo ii desu yo.
• If sending an email is troublesome, it's okay to call instead.
  

Deep Dive

「〜でもいい」 can be used not only to express permission but also to make suggestions or indicate compromise. Below is a detailed explanation of its specific uses.

Expressing Permission

When 「〜でもいい」 is used to express permission, it typically means that someone is allowed to do something.

• ここここに座すわってもいいですか？
• Koko ni suwatte mo ii desu ka?
• Is it okay to sit here?
  

Making Suggestions

「〜でもいい」 can also be used to make suggestions, indicating that a certain option is acceptable.

• 明日あしたは休やすんでもいいですよ。
• Ashita wa yasunde mo ii desu yo.
• It's okay to take a break tomorrow.
  

Indicating Compromise

When 「〜でもいい」 is used to indicate compromise, it often means that someone is accepting a less-than-ideal situation.

• この服ふくはちょっと高たかいけど、買かってもいいです。
• Kono fuku wa chotto takai kedo, katte mo ii desu.
• This clothing is a bit expensive, but it's okay to buy it.
  

Comparison and Differences

Comparison between 「〜でもいい」 and 「〜てもかまわない」:

Expression	Tone	Example
〜でもいい	Neutral	ここここに置おいてもいいですか？
〜てもかまわない	More casual	ここここに置おいてもかまいませんか？

Real-Life Scenarios

• In daily life, 「〜でもいい」 can be used in many situations to express permission or make suggestions, such as:
• When a friend asks if they can borrow something.
• When discussing activity choices for a day off.

Summary

「〜でもいい」 is a very common expression in Japanese used to indicate permission, suggestions, or compromise. Mastering this grammar point can greatly enhance your Japanese communication skills. In practical use, pay attention to the context to choose the appropriate expression and convey your intentions accurately.