可

kě
#30 most
frequent character
can, may, approve, be worth, suit
adverb
conjunction

Character breakdown

Source: Make Me a Hanzi.

可 pairs 口 mouth with a sound part written 可 without 口 in old forms. The mouth ties to the first meaning, 'to sing'. The sense 'to affirm' was borrowed for sound only, then grew to 'true' and 'able'.

可 as a component in other characters

meaning1 character
哥
sound18 characters
何阿奇河哥呵柯苛珂诃轲坷舸岢疴哿

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Example Sentences

我可以去吗？
wǒ kěyǐ qù ma ？
Can I go?
他很忙，可是我还是想见他。
tā hěn máng ， kěshì wǒhuánshì xiǎng jiàn tā 。
He is very busy, but I still want to see him.
这个地方可真不错。
zhègè dìfāng kě zhēn bùcuò 。
This place is really nice.

Grammar Points

HSK 4
Emphatic adverb "ke"
Expressing "no" (noun) "to" (verb) with "wu... ke..."
HSK 2
Expressing permission with "keyi"
HSK 4
Two words for "but"

Same Characters, Different Readings

可kè
used in 可汗[ke4 han2]

Words with similar meanings

能够nénggòu
be able to
A more formal expression indicating capability or potential.
可能kěnéng
may, possible
Indicates possibility, slightly more tentative than '可'.

Homophones

HSK 3
渴kě
thirsty

Words Starting With 可

可以kě yǐ
can; may; possible; able to
可能kě néng
might (happen); possible; probable; possibility; probability; maybe; perhaps
可爱kě ài
amiable; cute; lovely
可怜kě lián
pitiful; pathetic
可惜kě xī
it is a pity; what a pity; (it's) too bad

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