Meaning of 允许
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to permit; to allow
How to use 允许
允许 is a fairly formal verb used for rules, parents, schools, and laws, often in the pattern 允许 + person + verb. Example: 这里不允许吸烟。(Zhèlǐ bù yǔnxǔ xīyān.) Smoking is not allowed here.
Both characters mean saying yes. 允 (yǔn) means to consent, and 许 (xǔ) has the speech radical 讠, so picture someone giving their word that you may go ahead.
Common mistake: Learners often use 允许 for casual requests like asking a friend to let them do something, where 让 (ràng) or 可以 (kěyǐ) sounds more natural. Also note both syllables are third tone, so 允 shifts to a rising tone in speech: yúnxǔ.
允许 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
允 yǔn · to grant · 4 strokes
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- 2
- 3
- 4
许 xǔ · to allow · 6 strokes
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- 2
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- 6
Related words
Words that share a character with 允许.
| 也许 | yěxǔ | perhaps; maybe |
| 许多 | xǔduō | many; a lot of |
| 或许 | huòxǔ | perhaps; maybe |
| 不许 | bùxǔ | not to allow; must not |
| 许可 | xǔkě | to allow; to permit |
| 准许 | zhǔnxǔ | to allow; to grant |
| 许可证 | xǔkězhèng | license; authorization |
| 容许 | róngxǔ | to permit; to allow |
| 赞许 | zànxǔ | to praise; to laud |
| 许愿 | xǔyuàn | to make a wish; to make a vow |
| 许诺 | xǔnuò | to promise; to pledge |
| 许下 | xǔxià | to make a promise |
Questions about 允许
What does 允许 mean?
允许 (yǔnxǔ) means "to permit; to allow" and is used as a verb.
How do you write 允许?
允许 is made of 2 characters: 允 (4 strokes), 许 (6 strokes). That is 10 strokes in total.
Is 允许 an HSK word?
Yes. 允许 is on the HSK 6 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 允许 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 允许 is written 允許.
What is the difference between 允许 and 不许?
允许 means to permit, and 不允许 means not permitted. 不许 (bùxǔ) is a shorter, more direct prohibition, often used by parents or teachers, as in 不许哭 (bùxǔ kū), don't cry.
How is 允许 different from 准许 and 许可?
All three mean to allow. 准许 (zhǔnxǔ) suggests official approval from someone in authority, and 许可 (xǔkě) is common as a noun meaning a permit or license, as in 许可证 (xǔkězhèng). 允许 is the most general of the three.