Chinese phrase
我可以问你〜吗？ wǒ ké yǐ wèn nǐ 〜 ma
Meaning
Can I ask you ___?
When to use it
A polite way to ask permission to ask someone a question. It often introduces a personal or practical question and keeps the tone respectful.
Example dialogue
您好，我可以问你每天几点上班吗？ nín hǎo wǒ ké yǐ wèn nǐ měi tiān jí diǎn shàng bān ma
Hello, can I ask what time you go to work every day?
可以，我通常八点上班。 ké yǐ wǒ tōng cháng bā diǎn shàng bān
Sure. I usually go to work at eight.