Chinese phrase
允许〜吗？ yún xǔ 〜 ma
Meaning
Is it okay to ___?
When to use it
Asks whether an action is allowed. It is a polite way to ask for permission in a place or situation.
Example dialogue
请问，这里允许抽烟吗？ qǐng wèn zhè lǐ yún xǔ chōu yān ma
Excuse me, is it okay to smoke here?
不可以，请到指定的吸烟区。 bù ké yǐ qǐng dào zhǐ dìng de xī yān qū
No, please go to the designated smoking area.