Chinese phrase
可以〜蛋糕吗？ ké yǐ 〜 dàn gāo ma
Meaning
Can I ___ the cake?
When to use it
Politely asks for permission to do something with the cake. It is common in everyday speech before an expected yes-or-no reply.
Example dialogue
我 可以 吃 蛋糕吗？ wǒ ké yǐ chī dàn gāo ma
Can I eat the cake?
可以，自己切一块吧。 ké yǐ zì jǐ qiē yí kuài ba
Sure, cut yourself a piece.