When do I use 允许 vs 容许?

Use 允许 in most everyday situations for giving or granting permission. Use 容许 when you want to stress toleration or formal allowance, especially in negative constructions (不容许) or in writing. For example, 'The teacher allowed us to leave' → 允许; 'The constitution does not tolerate discrimination' → 不容许.

Is 容许 always used in negative sentences?

No, but it is very common in negatives (不容许, 不……容许). In positive sentences, 容许 still appears (e.g., 容许存在 'permit to exist'), but it often implies a grudging or conditional allowance. For unconditional, neutral permission, 允许 is preferred.

Can I use 允许 and 容许 interchangeably in formal writing?

Not exactly. In formal writing, 容许 is more specific to 'tolerate' or 'brook,' while 允许 is broader. If you mean 'permit' without extra nuance, 允许 is fine even in formal texts. But if you are emphasizing that something is not to be tolerated, 不容许 is stronger and more appropriate.

Easily confusedHSK 6

允许 vs 容许 (yǔnxǔ vs róngxǔ): to allow or to tolerate

Both 允许 and 容许 mean 'to allow' or 'to permit,' but 容许 carries a stronger nuance of 'tolerate' or 'brook' and is more formal, often used in negative constructions (不容许). 允许 is the general, neutral term for granting permission in everyday situations, while 容许 implies allowing despite potential objections or under stricter conditions.

允许 and 容许 both translate to 'allow' or 'permit,' but they differ in formality and connotation. 允许 is the standard, neutral term for permission, used in everyday contexts from informal to formal. 容许 is more formal and often implies 'tolerate' or 'brook,' suggesting that the permission is granted reluctantly or under strict conditions. It is especially common in negative constructions (不容许) to express that something is not tolerated or is forbidden. Choosing between them depends on the degree of formality and the presence of a negative or prohibitive tone.

When to use each

允许yǔnxǔ

to allow, to permit

Use 允许 for general permission, granting someone the right or opportunity to do something. It is the go-to word for most situations requiring an 'allow' meaning, from casual to formal settings.

允许 can be used in both positive and negative sentences, but the negative (不允许) is a straightforward prohibition. It does not carry the 'tolerate' nuance of 容许.

容许róngxǔ

to tolerate, to brook, to permit (formal)

Use 容许 in formal or literary contexts to indicate tolerance of something, especially when there is an expectation that it might be resisted. It is very common in negative phrases (不容许, 不容) to stress that something is not allowed or cannot be tolerated.

容许 often implies a higher authority or a moral/legal standard. Even in positive sentences (e.g., 容许存在), it carries a more conditional or reluctant flavor than 允许.

At a glance

	允许	容许
Formality	Standard, neutral, used in all registers	More formal, often in written or official language
Connotation	Straightforward permission without extra nuance	Implies toleration or brooking, often reluctantly
Typical usage in negatives	不允许 is a direct prohibition; common	不容许 is very common; expresses strong forbiddance or intolerance
Frequency in spoken vs written	Frequent in both spoken and written Chinese	More common in written, legal, or formal speech

Examples

允许
老师允许我们提前离开。
Lǎoshī yǔnxǔ wǒmen tíqián líkāi.
The teacher allowed us to leave early.
Everyday permission in a school setting; 容许 would be too formal.
容许
这种错误不容许再次发生。
Zhè zhǒng cuòwù bù róngxǔ zàicì fāshēng.
This kind of mistake is not to be tolerated again.
Negative construction with 不容许 emphasizes strict forbiddance.
允许
公司允许员工在家办公。
Gōngsī yǔnxǔ yuángōng zài jiā bàngōng.
The company allows employees to work from home.
Neutral permission; 容许 would sound unnecessarily formal and imply reluctance.
容许
法律不容许任何歧视行为。
Fǎlǜ bù róngxǔ rènhé qíshì xíngwéi.
The law does not tolerate any discriminatory behavior.
Formal legal context; 不容许 is idiomatic for 'does not permit/tolerate.'
允许
只要条件允许，我们就去旅行。
Zhǐyào tiáojiàn yǔnxǔ, wǒmen jiù qù lǚxíng.
As long as conditions permit, we will travel.
Common idiom 条件允许; 容许 would be unnatural here.
容许
这种不文明的行为不容许在公共场合出现。
Zhè zhǒng bù wénmíng de xíngwéi bù róngxǔ zài gōnggòng chǎnghé chūxiàn.
Such uncivilized behavior is not to be tolerated in public places.
Negative with 不容许; typical for rules and standards.

Common mistakes

Using 容许 in casual conversation for simple permission (e.g., 'allow me to go' should be 允许, not 容许).
Using 允许 in formal negative prohibitions where 容许 is more natural (e.g., 'the rules do not allow cheating' is better as 规则不容许作弊 than 规则不允许作弊, though both are grammatically correct).
Assuming 容许 can always replace 允许 in positive sentences; it can sound overly formal or imply the speaker is reluctantly allowing.
Using 容许 in the positive without a conditional context (e.g., 'I allow it' as 我容许 is rare and stiff; use 我允许).

FAQ

When do I use 允许 vs 容许?: Use 允许 in most everyday situations for giving or granting permission. Use 容许 when you want to stress toleration or formal allowance, especially in negative constructions (不容许) or in writing. For example, 'The teacher allowed us to leave' → 允许; 'The constitution does not tolerate discrimination' → 不容许.
Is 容许 always used in negative sentences?: No, but it is very common in negatives (不容许, 不……容许). In positive sentences, 容许 still appears (e.g., 容许存在 'permit to exist'), but it often implies a grudging or conditional allowance. For unconditional, neutral permission, 允许 is preferred.
Can I use 允许 and 容许 interchangeably in formal writing?: Not exactly. In formal writing, 容许 is more specific to 'tolerate' or 'brook,' while 允许 is broader. If you mean 'permit' without extra nuance, 允许 is fine even in formal texts. But if you are emphasizing that something is not to be tolerated, 不容许 is stronger and more appropriate.