"Được không?": how to ask "is that okay?" in Vietnamese

Được không? means "Is that okay?" or "Can I/can you?" in Vietnamese. You put it at the end of a request, for example "Chụp ảnh được không?" ("Can I take a photo?"), and the other person answers "Được" (yes, okay) or "Không được" (no, not okay).

Breaking it down

• Được ("duhk," with a low, heavy tone): okay, possible, allowed, can.
• Không ("khohm"): no, not. At the end of a sentence it turns the sentence into a yes-or-no question.

Together, "được không?" literally asks "possible or not?" It is one of the most useful patterns you can learn, because you can attach it to almost any action.

How to use it

The pattern is simple: [action] + được không?

• Ngồi đây được không? ("Can I sit here?")
• Chụp ảnh được không? ("Can I take a photo?")
• Trả bằng thẻ được không? ("Can I pay by card?")
• Nói chậm hơn được không? ("Can you speak more slowly?")
• Giảm giá được không? ("Can you give me a discount?")

You don't always need a subject, because the context usually makes it clear who is doing what. If you want to be more polite, add a pronoun and the respectful ending: "Em ngồi đây được không ạ?"

How to answer

• Được. ("Okay." / "Sure.")
• Được chứ! ("Of course!") Warm and enthusiastic.
• Được rồi. ("Okay then." / "Alright.") Also used to wrap up a conversation.
• Không được. ("No, that's not okay." / "You can't.")
• Chắc không được. ("Probably not.") Softer.

If you are on the receiving end and want to refuse gently, see how to say no in Vietnamese without sounding rude.

"Có được không?" and other variations

You will also hear a few longer forms:

• Có được không? Adding có makes the question a little fuller, like "Would it be possible?"
• ... có được không ạ? The polite version for elders, staff or strangers.
• ... được hông? In casual Southern speech, không often sounds like hông.
• ... được chứ? "That's fine, right?" when you expect a yes.

Other jobs for "được"

Được is a hardworking word, so it helps to recognize it in other spots:

• Được đấy! (Northern) / Được đó! (Southern): "That's good!" or "Not bad!"
• Được rồi. "Okay, fine," or "That's done."
• Tôi nói được tiếng Việt một chút. "I can speak a little Vietnamese." Here được after the verb means "able to."

Asking about abilities vs permission

Notice two slightly different uses:

• Ăn cay được không? ("Can you eat spicy food?") is about ability.
• Ăn ở đây được không? ("Can I eat here?") is about permission.

Context tells you which one is meant, and the answer works the same way either way.

Useful situations

At a restaurant: "Không cho hành được không?" ("Can you leave out the onions?") Useful if you have food preferences.

At a shop: "Thử được không?" ("Can I try it on?")

Bargaining: "Bớt chút được không?" ("Can you knock a little off?") Pair it with our guide to bao nhiêu: how to ask the price in Vietnamese.

With friends: "Đi cà phê được không?" ("Want to go for coffee?") Here it works like "How about...?"

Tone and politeness

Because "được không?" is so short, your tone does the softening. A rising, friendly voice sounds like a request. A flat, fast delivery can sound like a demand. Add ạ for anyone older, and nhé or nha for friends when you want to sound gentle.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Forgetting the tone on được. Said flatly, it can be hard to recognize. Let it drop low and heavy.
• Using it as a demand. "Giảm giá được không?" with a frown sounds pushy. Smile, and add ạ or nhé.
• Answering with "có." In many questions, "có" means yes, but for "được không?" the natural answer is "được" or "không được."

Practice set

Try saying these out loud:

• Em hỏi một chút được không ạ? ("May I ask something?")
• Mình đổi chỗ được không? ("Can we switch seats?")
• Gửi xe ở đây được không? ("Can I park my motorbike here?")

Learn the pattern once, and every new verb you pick up becomes a polite request you can make.