允许

• Pinyin: yǔn xǔ
• Hanzi breakdown: 允 = 厶 + 儿, meaning to permit; 许 = 讠(speech) + 午, meaning to allow

Meaning

To permit; to allow; permission. To give consent or approval for something.

A formal word for permission. Common phrases: 允许进入 (permission to enter), 不允许 (not allowed), 在...的允许下 (with the permission of), 法律允许 (legally permitted). More formal than 让.

Examples

1. 这里不允许吸烟，请到指定区域。 Smoking is not allowed here; please go to the designated area.
2. 在父母的允许下，她决定独自出国留学。 With her parents' permission, she decided to study abroad alone.
3. 法律允许公民有表达意见的自由。 The law permits citizens the freedom to express their opinions.

Usage Guide

Context: rules, regulations, official contexts

Tone: authoritative

Do Say

• 请问这里允许拍照吗？(Excuse me, is photography allowed here?)
• 没有他的允许，不能动这些东西。(You can't touch these things without his permission.)

Don't Say

• 我允许你的请求 — 应该说'我同意你的请求'，允许用于允许做某事

Origin & History

Compound of 允 (to allow, sincere) + 许 (to permit). Both characters relate to granting permission, combining for emphasis.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal