← Grammar bank

Formation: V-て form + も差し支えない; い-adj (〜い→〜くて) + も差し支えない; N / な-adj + でも差し支えない

A formal way to give or ask for permission: doing X causes no problem. It is a stiffer, more polite version of 〜てもいい or 〜てもかまわない, used in business, official notices, instructions and doctors' advice, usually as 差し支えありません. To ask permission politely, use 〜ても差し支えないでしょうか. The related set phrase 差し支えなければ (if you don't mind) comes from the same word but is a separate expression without 〜ても. Don't confuse it with 〜に越したことはない (it is best to do X): 〜ても差し支えない only means X is allowed, not that it is recommended.

Variants: 〜でも差し支えない、〜ても差し支えありません、〜ても差し支えございません、〜ても差し支えないでしょうか

Examples

• 書類は鉛筆で記入しても差し支えありません。
  You may fill in the form in pencil.
• 熱が下がれば、入浴しても差し支えないでしょう。
  Once your fever goes down, it should be fine to take a bath.
• ご連絡は夜遅くでも差し支えありません。
  It's no problem if you contact me late at night.

In real texts 0 occurrence(s)

No post has used this pattern yet. Examples from real texts will appear here.