What's the difference between bisa, boleh, and dapat?

Bisa means 'can' in the sense of ability, you have the skill or possibility. Boleh means 'can' in the sense of permission, you're allowed. Dapat is the formal equivalent of bisa, used in writing and official speech. Using boleh when you mean bisa makes it sound like you're asking permission to have a skill; using bisa when you mean boleh sounds like you're ignoring social rules.

How do you ask 'can I?' politely in Indonesian?

Use 'Boleh saya...?', for example 'Boleh saya bertanya?' (May I ask?). 'Boleh' signals you're asking permission, which is the polite way to open a request. 'Bisa saya...?' is also acceptable and more casual.

Is dapat still used in everyday Indonesian?

Dapat is mostly reserved for formal writing, news broadcasts, business emails, and official speeches. In casual conversation, Indonesians almost always say bisa. Learners can safely default to bisa in speech, but you'll see dapat constantly in reading material.

Blog · Grammar

Bisa, boleh, dapat, three ways to say "can".

English "can" does double duty for ability and permission. Indonesian pulls them apart. Add the formal register on top and you have three words where English has one, and picking wrong changes what you meant.

The rule in one sentence each

Bisa, can, in the sense of ability or possibility.
Boleh, can, in the sense of permission or allowance.
Dapat, can, in the formal register, same meaning as bisa, but for writing and official speech.

Bisa: ability

Use bisa when the question is "am I able to do this?", the skill, the knowledge, or the physical possibility exists.

Saya bisa berenang., I can swim. (I have the skill.)
Dia bisa berbicara bahasa Inggris., She can speak English.
Mobilnya tidak bisa menyala., The car can't start. (It's not able to.)
Saya bisa datang jam tujuh., I can come at 7. (It's possible for me.)

If you swap in boleh here, you'd sound like you're asking whether you have permission to have the skill, nonsense in context.

Boleh: permission

Use boleh when the question is "am I allowed to do this?", someone has authority over the situation, and you're asking (or stating) what's permitted.

Boleh saya masuk?, May I come in?
Anak-anak tidak boleh bermain di sini., Children aren't allowed to play here.
Kamu boleh ambil satu., You may take one. (Permission granted.)
Boleh minta tolong?, May I ask for help?

Indonesian service interactions run on boleh. If you're ordering food, asking to see a menu, or requesting the bill, opening with boleh is the polite move: "Boleh minta menu?" (May I have the menu?).

Dapat: the formal one

Dapat carries the same meaning as bisa (ability, possibility), but lives in the formal register. You'll see it constantly in:

News articles: "Menteri dapat menghadiri rapat besok.", The minister can attend the meeting tomorrow.
Business emails: "Kami dapat menawarkan diskon 10%.", We can offer a 10% discount.
Signage and official notices: "Pengunjung dapat menggunakan lift.", Visitors may use the elevator.
Contracts and legal documents

In casual speech, dapat sounds stiff, like saying "one may" in English when you mean "you can". Use bisa in conversation; reach for dapat in writing and formal situations.

The "can I?" question, translated three ways

Suppose you want to ask "Can I use your phone?"

"Bisa saya pakai teleponmu?", asks whether it's possible (is the phone working, is there signal, etc.). Slightly odd for a request.
"Boleh saya pakai teleponmu?", asks for permission. The correct, polite form.
"Dapatkah saya menggunakan teleponmu?", the formal version. Fine in an email, stiff in person.

For any request to a person, default to boleh. For statements about what's physically possible, bisa.

The overlap zone

In real speech, Indonesians sometimes use bisa loosely for permission too, especially in Jakarta. You'll hear "Bisa saya masuk?" ("Can I come in?") and nobody will correct it. But:

Never use boleh for pure ability. "Dia boleh berenang" sounds like she has permission to swim, not that she can.
The safe rule: default to the specific word (bisa for ability, boleh for permission). Speak more precisely than Indonesians do in casual speech, your Indonesian will sound clearer, not fussier.

Negating each one

All three negate with tidak (since they're verbs):

tidak bisa, can't (unable)
tidak boleh, can't (not allowed)
tidak dapat, can't (formal)

The distinction matters. "Saya tidak bisa minum alkohol" = I can't drink alcohol (I'm allergic / on medication). "Saya tidak boleh minum alkohol" = I'm not allowed to drink alcohol (religious, under 21, etc.).

One common phrase worth memorising

"Bisa bahasa Indonesia?", Do you speak Indonesian? (Literally: Can you Indonesian?.) This is the question Indonesians will ask you constantly once you've used a single word. The expected reply: "Sedikit" (a little) or "Ya, saya belajar" (Yes, I'm learning).

Practice these in the app

Each concept is practiced in Speak Indo: bisa and boleh have dedicated cards, while dapat appears in examples across formal reading and grammar practice. They also appear together in the grammar category with contrast examples.

Practice in the app → More posts