Chinese phrase
可以申请〜吗？ ké yǐ shēn qǐng 〜 ma
Meaning
May I apply for ___?
When to use it
It politely asks if the speaker may apply for something. It is common at service counters when asking about a service or benefit.
Example dialogue
请问，我 可以申请 退税 吗？ qǐng wèn wǒ ké yǐ shēn qǐng tuì shuì ma
Excuse me, may I apply for a tax refund?
可以，把收据和护照给我看一下。 ké yǐ bǎ shōu jù hé hù zhào gěi wǒ kàn yí xià
Sure, please show me the receipt and passport.