〜ちゃ（じゃ）だめ？: This is a very casual way to ask if you can do something. It means 'Is it not okay if I...?' or 'I can't...?, can I?'

Dictionary

〜ちゃ（じゃ）だめ？

This is a very casual way to ask if you can do something. It means 'Is it not okay if I...?' or 'I can't...?, can I?'

N4 KMT4CasualCasual ContractionSpoken OnlyYouthCasual Permission And ProhibitionGrammar

Verb [ちゃ-form] + だめ？Primary

Verb [じゃ-form] + だめ？

This is a very casual way to ask if you can do something. It means 'Is it not okay if I...?' or 'I can't...?, can I?'

ママ、このケーキ、もう食べちゃだめ？

Mom, can't I eat this cake now?

CasualNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingPermissionFood & Dining Family & Relationships

この写真、SNSにアップしちゃだめ？

Is it not okay for me to upload this photo to social media?

CasualNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingPermissionInternet & Social Media

え、昨日あのお菓子食べちゃだめだった？

Wait, was I not supposed to eat those snacks yesterday?

CasualPastAffirmativeSentence EndingPermissionFood & Dining Daily Life

「もう帰っちゃだめ？」って聞いたら、部長に睨まれた。

When I asked, 'Can't I go home now?', the department head glared at me.

NeutralNon PastAffirmativeMid SentencePermissionWork & Career Emotions & Psychology

疲れたから、今日の練習はもう休んじゃだめかな？

I'm tired, so I wonder if it's not okay to skip practice today?

CasualNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingPermissionSports & Martial Arts Medicine & Health

This phrase is very casual. It is like a child asking for something. You can use it with close friends or family. Do not use it at work or with strangers. It would sound too familiar.

This is like asking "Can't I do this?" It's different from "Can I do this?" because it sounds more like begging. It's also different from "じゃだめ？" That one is used after certain verb forms or with nouns.

Don't use this in formal writing. For example, don't use it in a school essay. This phrase is only for speaking. The verb before it must be in the -te form. If you want to ask 'Is it okay if I don't do something?', use a different phrase.

Contrasts with(3)

〜ていい？

You use this to ask for permission. It means 'Can I...?' or 'Is it okay if I...?'.

〜てもいい？

A casual way to ask for permission, equivalent to 'May I...?' or 'Is it okay if I...?'.

〜ちゃだめ / 〜じゃだめ

This means you must not do something. It is a casual way to say "you are not allowed to."

て形

This is a special form of words. You use it to connect actions or ideas. It can mean "and then," "because," or "by doing something."

〜じゃだめ

This phrase means 'you must not' or 'you can't'. It tells someone not to do something.

〜ちゃう / 〜じゃう

This is a short way to say 〜てしまう. It means an action is finished. Sometimes it shows you feel sad or surprised about it. Or that it happened by accident.

〜てはいけません

This phrase means you must not do something. It shows that doing it is not allowed.

Track your mastery

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Dictionary

〜ちゃ（じゃ）だめ？

This is a very casual way to ask if you can do something. It means 'Is it not okay if I...?' or 'I can't...?, can I?'

N4 KMT4CasualCasual ContractionSpoken OnlyYouthCasual Permission And ProhibitionGrammar

Verb [ちゃ-form] + だめ？Primary

Verb [じゃ-form] + だめ？

This is a very casual way to ask if you can do something. It means 'Is it not okay if I...?' or 'I can't...?, can I?'

ママ、このケーキ、もう食べちゃだめ？

Mom, can't I eat this cake now?

CasualNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingPermissionFood & Dining Family & Relationships

この写真、SNSにアップしちゃだめ？

Is it not okay for me to upload this photo to social media?

CasualNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingPermissionInternet & Social Media

え、昨日あのお菓子食べちゃだめだった？

Wait, was I not supposed to eat those snacks yesterday?

CasualPastAffirmativeSentence EndingPermissionFood & Dining Daily Life

「もう帰っちゃだめ？」って聞いたら、部長に睨まれた。

When I asked, 'Can't I go home now?', the department head glared at me.

NeutralNon PastAffirmativeMid SentencePermissionWork & Career Emotions & Psychology

疲れたから、今日の練習はもう休んじゃだめかな？

I'm tired, so I wonder if it's not okay to skip practice today?

CasualNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingPermissionSports & Martial Arts Medicine & Health

This phrase is very casual. It is like a child asking for something. You can use it with close friends or family. Do not use it at work or with strangers. It would sound too familiar.

Contrasts with(3)

〜ていい？

You use this to ask for permission. It means 'Can I...?' or 'Is it okay if I...?'.

〜てもいい？

A casual way to ask for permission, equivalent to 'May I...?' or 'Is it okay if I...?'.

〜ちゃだめ / 〜じゃだめ

This means you must not do something. It is a casual way to say "you are not allowed to."

て形

This is a special form of words. You use it to connect actions or ideas. It can mean "and then," "because," or "by doing something."

〜じゃだめ

This phrase means 'you must not' or 'you can't'. It tells someone not to do something.

〜ちゃう / 〜じゃう

This is a short way to say 〜てしまう. It means an action is finished. Sometimes it shows you feel sad or surprised about it. Or that it happened by accident.

〜てはいけません

This phrase means you must not do something. It shows that doing it is not allowed.

Track your mastery

Kumi's KMT system tracks your mastery across kanji, vocabulary, grammar, and reading. Create a free account to use it on 220,000+ concepts.

〜ちゃ（じゃ）だめ？

Patterns2

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Restrictions1

Compare with3

Contrasts with(3)

Prerequisites4

Track your mastery

〜ちゃ（じゃ）だめ？

Patterns2

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Restrictions1

Compare with3

Contrasts with(3)

Prerequisites4

Track your mastery