wǒ bù huì yòng, nǐ kěyǐ gěi wǒ kàn yíxià ma?

I don’t know how to use it; could you show me for a moment?

Breakdown of wǒ bù huì yòng, nǐ kěyǐ gěi wǒ kàn yíxià ma?

• 我wǒ: I
• 你nǐ: you
• 吗ma: question particle
• 不bù: not
• 我wǒ: me
• 可以kěyǐ: can
• 给gěi: to
• 一下yíxià: once
• 用yòng: to use
• 会huì: know how to
• 看kàn: to look

Questions & Answers about wǒ bù huì yòng, nǐ kěyǐ gěi wǒ kàn yíxià ma?

Does 会 in 我不会用 mean “will,” “can,” or “know how to”?

Here it means “know how to” (a learned skill). So 我不会用 = “I don’t know how to use (it).”

• “Will” (future) can also be expressed with 会, but context is key. Here, future doesn’t fit.
• If you want “I won’t use it” (refusal), say 我不想用 or 我不会去用 (the latter is uncommon and context-dependent).

Where is the object of 用? What is it that I don’t know how to use?

Chinese often drops obvious objects. 我不会用 implies “I don’t know how to use it/this.” You can add it when needed:

• 我不会用它。
• 我不会用这个。

What does 给我看 literally mean? Who’s doing the looking?

给我看 literally “give me (to) see,” i.e., “show me” or “let me see.” The viewer is “me,” and you’re asking the other person to make that possible (by showing or allowing access). It does not mean “look at me” (that would be 看我).

Could I use 让 instead of 给 here?

Yes. 你可以让我看一下吗？ also means “Could you let me have a quick look?”

• 给我看 = “show me / let me see (it).”
• 让我看 = “allow me to look.”
  In this context they’re interchangeable.

What does 一下 add after 看?

一下 softens the request and suggests a quick, brief action. 看一下 ≈ “have a quick look” and sounds more polite than bare 看.

Can I say 看看 or 看一看 instead of 看一下?

Yes:

• 看看 (reduplication) is very common and casual.
• 看一下 is neutral and polite.
• 看一看 is slightly more deliberate/formal.
  All three fit in 给我…吗？ requests: 给我看看吗？/ 给我看一下吗？/ 给我看一看吗？

Is it okay to say 你可以看一下给我吗?

No. The word order is wrong. Use one of these patterns:

• 给 + recipient + [verb]: 你可以给我看一下吗？
• 让 + recipient + [verb]: 你可以让我看一下吗？
  Don’t put 给 after the verb here.

Why use 可以 instead of 能 or 会 in the request?

• 可以 asks for permission or a favor: “May/Can you…?” Most natural here.
• 能 focuses on ability/possibility: 你能给我看一下吗？ is okay, a bit less about permission.
• 会 = learned skill; not used to request: 你会给我看一下吗？ sounds odd.

How polite is this? How can I make it more or less polite?

• Current sentence is politely phrased.
• More polite:
  • 请你给我看一下，可以吗？
  • 麻烦你给我看一下，可以吗？
  • 能不能请你给我看一下？
• Less polite / more direct:
  • 给我看一下。
  • 给我看看。
    Note: Imperatives can sound blunt; 请/麻烦 softens them.

Any tone sandhi I should know when pronouncing it?

Yes:

• 不 before a 4th tone becomes 2nd tone: 不会 → bú huì (so: 我 bú huì yòng).
• 一 before a 4th tone becomes 2nd tone: 一下 → yí xià.
• Chains of 3rd tones often surface as 2nd+3rd sequences: 你可以给我 is commonly realized like “ní kéyí géi wǒ” in fluent speech.
• 吗 is neutral tone.
  A natural reading: “Wǒ búhuì yòng, nǐ kéyí géi wǒ kàn yíxià ma?”

Why is 不 pronounced bú here instead of bù?

Because it’s before a 4th-tone syllable (会 huì). Rule: 不 bù → bú when it precedes a 4th tone.

Why is 我 mentioned twice?

First 我 is the subject (“I don’t know how to use [it]”). The second 我 after 给 marks the recipient (“show me / let me see”). This is normal in Chinese.

Can I drop 你 in the request?

Yes. 可以给我看一下吗？ is common and can feel slightly less direct (thus more polite).

What does the comma do? Could it be two sentences?

The comma separates two clauses. You could also write a period:

• 我不会用。你可以给我看一下吗？
  Both are fine in writing; in speech you’ll naturally pause there.

Could I use 吗 vs 吧 at the end? What’s the difference?

• 吗 forms a neutral yes–no question (request for confirmation/permission).
• 吧 makes it a gentle suggestion/soft imperative: 给我看一下吧 ≈ “Please go ahead and show me.”
  Your sentence uses 吗 because you’re directly asking for permission.

Is 给 here a verb (“to give”) or a preposition?

It functions like a coverb/preposition marking the beneficiary/recipient: 给我看 = “for me to see / show me.” In other contexts 给 can be a full verb (“to give”).

What’s the difference between 不会用, 不能用, and 不可以用?

• 不会用: “don’t know how to use [it]” (lack of skill).
• 不能用: “cannot be used / not usable” (due to circumstances, broken, or ability constraints).
• 不可以用: “not allowed to use” (permission/prohibition).

If I want “Could you show me how to use it?”, how do I say that?

• 你可以教我怎么用吗？
• 可以给我演示一下怎么用吗？
• 能不能教我一下怎么用？
  These ask for instruction, not just a look.

Is 一下儿 (with 儿) okay?

Yes, 一下儿 is a northern/Beijing-style variant. 看一下儿 and 看一下 are both understood; 一下 is more general.

Can I just say 看一下吗 to ask for a quick look?

Better say 我可以看一下吗？ or 可以让我看一下吗？
Bare 看一下吗？ is understandable but can feel abrupt; adding a subject improves clarity and politeness.