Chinese phrase
这里可以〜吗？ zhè lǐ ké yǐ 〜 ma
Meaning
Can I ___ here?
When to use it
It asks whether an action is allowed in a particular place. It is a polite way to ask for permission, with the action stated in the sentence.
Example dialogue
请问，这里可以拍照吗？ qǐng wèn zhè lǐ ké yǐ pāi zhào ma
Excuse me, can I take photos here?
可以，不过请不要用闪光灯。 ké yǐ bú guò qǐng bú yào yòng shǎn guāng dēng
Yes, but please do not use a flash.