Various ways to say “Do you mind” in Chinese

The common expression

你介意吗？(Nǐ jièyì ma?)

This is a direct translation of “Do you mind?” in Chinese and is quite polite.

e.g.

我们改天再见，你介意吗？(Wǒmen gǎitiān zài jiàn, nǐ jièyì ma??) We’ll meet another day, do you mind?

如果我抽烟，你们介意吗？(Rúguǒ wǒ chōuyān, nǐmen jièyì ma?) Would you mind if I smoke?

The uses in sentences

……，你会介意吗？(……，nǐ huì jièyì ma?)

This is similar to “你介意吗？” but can imply that doing what you’re asking might be a bit more inconvenient or unusual. There is often a context before the phrase.

e.g.

我用一下你的电脑，你会介意吗？(Wǒ yòng yíxià nǐ de diànnǎo, nǐ huì jièyì ma?) May I use your computer for a moment? Would you mind?

如果我和异性朋友吃饭、看电影，你会介意吗？(Rúguǒ wǒ hé yìxìng péngyǒu chīfàn, kàn diànyǐng, nǐ huì jièyì ma?) Would you mind if I have dinner and watch a movie with a friend of the opposite sex?

你(会)介意……吗？(Nǐ huì jièyì …… ma?)

It’s also common to insert the context in between.

e.g.

你会介意我晚点还书吗？(Nǐ huì jièyì wǒ wǎn diǎn huán shū ma?) Would you mind if I return the book later?

你介意我开窗吗？(Nǐ jièyì wǒ kāi chuāng ma?) Do you mind if I open the window?

你介不介意……？

We can also use the positive-negative question form to ask “do you mind or not ……” in Chinese.

e.g.

你介不介意给我你的电话？(Nǐ jiè bù jièyì gěi wǒ nǐ de diànhuà?) Do you mind giving me your phone number?

你们介不介意坐外面那张桌子？(Nǐmen jiè bù jièyì zuò wàimiàn nà zhāng zhuōzi?) Do you guys mind sitting at the table outside?

不介意的话…… (Bù jièyì de huà……)

This phrase means “If you don’t mind…” and is used to precede a request, making it softer.

e.g.

不介意的话，能帮我拿一下那个包吗？(Bù jièyì de huà, néng bāng wǒ ná yíxià nàgè bāo ma?) If you don’t mind, could you please grab that bag for me?

不介意的话，我请你喝杯酒吧。(Bù jièyì de huà, wǒ qǐng nǐ hē bēi jiǔ ba.) If you don’t mind, let me buy you a drink.