可 kě may
may; -able
How to remember 可: 丁 nail + 口 mouth = may. The boy opens his mouth as his dad picks up a nail and asks "Dad, may I hammer this one in?"
Component breakdown
可 = 丁 nail + 口 mouth
- 丁 nail
- 口 mouth
The boy opens his mouth as his dad picks up a nail and asks "Dad, may I hammer this one in?"
How it came to be
A mouth with a bent stroke coming out of it: breath let out in agreement. Saying yes to a thing is granting that it may be done.
How it is used
- Lives in 可以 (kěyǐ) may/can and 可是 (kěshì) but; 可能 (kěnéng) maybe / possible.
- Alone it lends an -able flavour to a root - 可爱 (kě'ài) lovable, 可怕 (kěpà) fearsome, 可惜 (kěxī) regrettable.
Characters built with 可
Words with 可
- 可以kěyǐcanHSK 1
- 可能kěnéngpossibleHSK 2
- 可是kěshìbutHSK 3
- 可爱kě'àicuteHSK 3
- 可惜kěxīit's a pityHSK 4
- 可怕kěpàawfulHSK 5
- 可见kějiànit can clearly be seenHSK 5
- 可靠kěkàoreliableHSK 5
- 可怜kěliánpitifulHSK 6
- 可口kěkǒutastyHSK 6
- 可行kěxíngfeasibleHSK 6
- 认可rènkěto approveHSK 6
- 许可xǔkěto allowHSK 6
- 不可思议bùkě-sīyìinconceivableHSK 7
- 不可或缺bùkě-huòquēnecessaryHSK 7
- 即可jíkěequivalent to 就可以HSK 7
- 可不是kěbúshiexactly!HSK 7
- 可乘之机kěchéngzhījīan opportunity that someoneHSK 7
- 可想而知kěxiǎng’érzhī(it) goes without sayingHSK 7
- 可疑kěyísuspiciousHSK 7
- 可笑kěxiàofunnyHSK 7
- 可观kěguānworth seeingHSK 7
- 可贵kěguìto be treasuredHSK 7
- 大有可为dàyǒu-kěwéiwith great prospects for the future (idiom)HSK 7
- 必不可少bìbùkěshǎoabsolutely necessaryHSK 7
- 无可厚非wúkěhòufēiunderstandable; not to be blamedHSK 7
- 无话可说wúhuà-kěshuōto have nothing to say (idiom)HSK 7
- 随处可见suíchùkějiàncan be seen everywhereHSK 7
- 难能可贵nánnéng-kěguìrare and preciousHSK 7
- 势不可当shìbùkědāngimpossible to resist (idiom)HSK 8
- 可恶kěwùrepulsiveHSK 8
- 可悲kěbēilamentableHSK 8
- 可耻kěchǐshamefulHSK 8
- 可谓kěwèiit could even be saidHSK 8
- 宁可nìngkěpreferablyHSK 8
- 无可奈何wúkěnàihéhave no way outHSK 8
- 无家可归wújiā-kěguīhomelessHSK 8
Example sentences
- 那个小孩好可爱。 Nàge xiǎohái hǎo kě'ài.That child is really cute.
- 他们的女儿很可爱。 Tāmen de nǚ'ér hěn kě'ài.Their daughter is lovely.
- 我可以问你一件事吗？ Wǒ kěyǐ wèn nǐ yí jiàn shì ma?May I ask you a question?
- 她可能在教室里。 Tā kěnéng zài jiàoshì li.She might be in the classroom.