permission
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permission
The approval or consent to be allowed to do something specific. This can be given orally or in the form of an official document.
Hast du deine Eltern um Erlaubnis gefragt, ob du mit ins Kino darfst?
Did you ask your parents for permission to go to the cinema?
'Die Erlaubnis' (permission) is the noun form of the verb 'erlauben' (to allow). If someone allows you to do something, they give you permission.
Mein Chef erlaubt mir, früher zu gehen, also habe ich die Erlaubnis.
My boss allows me to leave earlier, so I have permission.
'Erlaubnis' (permission) is often combined with certain verbs: You can 'bekommen' (get) or 'haben' (have) permission, you can 'geben' (give) or 'erteilen' (grant) it to someone, and you can 'bitten um' (ask for) or 'fragen um' (ask for) it.
Für die Renovierung müssen Sie eine Erlaubnis von der Stadt bekommen.
You must get permission from the city for the renovation.
To describe exactly what is allowed, German very often uses a construction with 'zu' + infinitive. The pattern is: 'die Erlaubnis haben/bekommen, etwas zu tun' (to have/get permission to do something).
Die Kinder haben die Erlaubnis, im Garten zu spielen.
The children have permission to play in the garden.
freedom
Sich die Freiheit nehmen and um Erlaubnis bitten both concern whether one is allowed to do something. Someone who sich die Freiheit nimmt gives themselves the right to do it, often despite an unusual situation. Erlaubnis, by contrast, means the approval of another person or an authorized body.
Ich bat die Leiterin um Erlaubnis, das Thema trotz der knappen Zeit noch einmal anzusprechen.
I asked the director for permission to bring up the topic once again despite the limited time.
Ich nehme mir die Freiheit, das Thema trotz der knappen Zeit noch einmal anzusprechen.
I take the liberty of bringing up the topic once again despite the limited time.
