May I borrow this book? in Japanese 🇯🇵

Sentence info.

わたし は この ほん を かりても いい です か？

Romanized: Watashi wa kono hon o karite mo ii desu ka?

Explanation of Sentence Formation:

1. わたし (watashi) – I, me
– Pronoun used to refer to oneself.

2. は (wa) – Topic marker
– Indicates that "わたし" is the topic of the sentence.

3. この (kono) – this
– Demonstrative adjective used to specify a particular item close to the speaker.

4. ほん (hon) – book
– Noun referring to the object being borrowed.

5. を (o) – Direct object marker
– Indicates that "ほん" is the direct object of the verb.

6. かりても (karite mo) – The て-form of the verb かりる (kariru) – to borrow, plus も (mo)
– て-form together with も implies permission (karite mo – even if I borrow).

7. いい (ii) – good, fine
– Indicates that it is acceptable or okay.

8. です (desu) – polite sentence ending
– Adds politeness to the request.

9. か (ka) – question marker
– Indicates that the sentence is a question.

Alternate Ways to Say "May I borrow this book?" :

1. この ほん を かりても いい？
– Romanized: Kono hon o karite mo ii?
– Less formal, more casual way to ask.

2. この ほん を かりれますか？
– Romanized: Kono hon o kariremasu ka?
– Slightly more polite, uses the potential form of "to borrow" (may I be able to borrow this book?)

3. この ほん を かして ください。
– Romanized: Kono hon o kae kudasai.
– Directly translates to "Please lend me this book", another polite way to ask the same favor.

4. ほん を ちょっと かりても いいですか？
– Romanized: Hon o chotto karite mo ii desu ka?
– "ちょっと" (chotto) adds a nuance of "just a bit" or "for a moment", softening the request.

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