May I~? & Can I~?

In cases like this, "may" is slightly more formal/polite.

First of all, may is definitely more polite than can and I'd say it's more formal too. I'd use May I have your attention please? Another thing you will find people debate over is the way can is used to express abilities whereas may is often used to ask for permission. However, these days you'll see can

In Japan, customers are regarded a kind of *** (I think this is too much. I hate it cuz clerks and such are also like that cuz customers need them as well. We are not independent.), and people who serves to the customers need to show them a respectful attitude (often with saying very polite expressions). So Japanese people, especially clerks and such, would think that they should use "Might I ~?"

First of all, may is definitely more polite than can and I'd say it's more formal too. I'd use May I have your attention please? Another thing you will find people debate over is the way can is used to express abilities whereasmay is often used to ask for permission. However, these days you'll see

hachi8In Japan, customers are regarded a kind of *** (I think this is too much. I hate it cuz clerks and such are also like that cuz customers need them as well. We are not independent.), and people who serves to the customers need to show them a respectful attitude (often with saying very polite expressions). So Japanese people, especially clerks and such, would think th

When asking for permission:

"Can I ... ?" -- commonly used for direct questions
"Could I ... ?" -- slightly more polite/indirect; commonly used and suitable in many everyday situations
"May I ...?" -- more formal/polite again
"Might I ...?" -- more mannered; less usual; may not feel very natural

Thank you for helping me kindly, GPY:) Now I fe

hachi8i'll refrain from saying the word from now on.

It's not quite so bad in speech. In ordinary colloquial speech, even well-spoken native speakers sometimes abbreviate "because" to something like "cuz". It's in writing that it looks bad.

may is definitely more polite than can and I'd say it's more formal too.

So, you think "may" is not only more polite but also less polite than "can", do you? I'm wondering if this is a common knowledge among native speakers or not. Possibly, does "may" imply something like "whichever" in its meaning?

hachi8So, you think "may" is not only more polite but also less polite than "can", do you?

I think you mistyped something there? It cannot be both more polite and less polite.

ah sorry I guess I misread