may, can, -able

HSK 3 5
Stroke order animation for 可

이 한자가 들어간 단어

可能 kě néng HSK 2
might (happen)
可以 kě yǐ HSK 2
can
HSK 3
可爱 kě ài HSK 3
adorable
可怜 kě lián HSK 4
pitiful
可是 kě shì HSK 4
but; however
可惜 kě xī HSK 4
it is a pity
可见 kě jiàn HSK 5
it can clearly be seen (that this is the case)
可靠 kě kào HSK 5
reliable
可怕 kě pà HSK 5
awful
宁可 nìng kě HSK 5
preferably
可恶 kě wù HSK 6
repulsive
可观 kě guān HSK 6
considerable
可口 kě kǒu HSK 6
tasty; to taste good
可笑 kě xiào HSK 6
funny
可行 kě xíng HSK 6
feasible
认可 rèn kě HSK 6
to approve
许可 xǔ kě HSK 6
to allow
不可思议 bù kě sī yì HSK 6
inconceivable (idiom); unimaginable
难能可贵 nán néng kě guì HSK 6
rare and precious
无可奉告 wú kě fèng gào HSK 6
(idiom) "no comment"
无可奈何 wú kě nài hé HSK 6
have no way out
即可 jíkě HSK 7
即可
可悲 kěbēi HSK 7
可悲
可耻 kěchǐ HSK 7
可耻
可贵 kěguì HSK 7
可贵
可谓 kěwèi HSK 7
可谓
可疑 kěyí HSK 7
可疑
可不是 kěbúshi HSK 7
可不是
必不可少 bìbùkěshǎo HSK 7
必不可少
不可或缺 bùkě-huòquē HSK 7
不可或缺
大有可为 dàyǒu-kěwéi HSK 7
大有可为
可乘之机 kěchéngzhījī HSK 7
可乘之机
可想而知 kěxiǎng’érzhī HSK 7
可想而知
势不可当 shìbùkědāng HSK 7
势不可当
随处可见 suíchù kě jiàn HSK 7
随处可见
无话可说 wúhuà-kěshuō HSK 7
无话可说
无家可归 wújiā-kěguī HSK 7
无家可归
无可厚非 wúkěhòufēi HSK 7
无可厚非

Usage of

The character is a versatile modal particle and adverb in Mandarin. It often conveys permission, possibility, or emphasis. When used before verbs or adjectives, it can mean 'can', 'may', or add emphasis similar to 'really' or 'indeed'.

Common Collocations

Notes

  • is often used in spoken and informal written Chinese to add emotional weight or urgency.
  • It differs from 可能 (kěnéng) which strictly means 'possible'.
  • Avoid confusing with 可以 (kěyǐ), which explicitly means 'may' or 'can' in permission contexts; is more flexible and often more emphatic.

Understanding helps learners grasp subtle nuances in everyday speech and adds natural emphasis to statements.

예문

这个问题可不简单。

Zhège wèntí kě bù jiǎndān.

This problem is really not simple.

你可要好好准备考试。

Nǐ kě yào hǎohǎo zhǔnbèi kǎoshì.

You really must prepare well for the exam.

这里可不能随便停车。

Zhèlǐ kě bù néng suíbiàn tíngchē.

You absolutely cannot park here casually.