肯 kěn agree to
agree to; willing
How to remember 肯: 止 stop + ⺝ meat = agree to. The kid begs Dad to stop the car for a meat skewer, and after ten minutes of whining he finally has to agree to it.
Component breakdown
肯 = 止 stop + ⺝ meat
- 止 stop
- ⺝ meat
The kid begs Dad to stop the car for a meat skewer, and after ten minutes of whining he finally has to agree to it.
How it came to be
Meat with a bone above it, the meat that clings to the bone. It comes away only if you mean it: being willing is the part that gives when you pull.
How it is used
- To be willing to do something - 他不肯帮忙 (tā bù kěn bāngmáng) he won't (is unwilling to) help.
- It marks willingness, not ability (能) or permission (可以).
- Also the anchor of 肯定 (kěndìng), certainly / to affirm.
Characters built with 肯
Words with 肯
Example sentences
- 我肯定他在说谎！ Wǒ kěndìng tā zài shuōhuǎng!I'm sure he was lying!