可

Derived characters

• 何, 呵, 坷, 妸, 㞹, 抲, 河, 阿, 柯, 炣, 牁, 牱, 珂, 胢, 砢, 袔, 䋍(𰬂), 舸, 蚵, 訶(诃), 跒, 軻(轲), 酠, 鈳(钶), 䯊, 魺(鲄), 鴚(𱉕), 䶗(𮯙)
• 㪃, 㪼, 㰤, 㐓, 奇, 岢, 苛, 㱒, 竒, 哿, 哥, 笴, 疴, 㫊, 閜(𬮠), 㑸

Descendants

• 𛀙
• 𛀚

References

• Kangxi Dictionary: page 172, character 12
• Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 3245
• Dae Jaweon: page 383, character 7
• Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 1, page 567, character 7
• Unihan data for U+53EF

Pronunciation

Definitions

可

1. can; may; be able to

   可溶  ―  kěróng  ―  soluble

   可大可小  ―  kě dà kě xiǎo  ―  can be serious or minor

   這袋子可盛五十公斤。 [MSC, trad.]
   这袋子可盛五十公斤。 [MSC, simp.]

   Zhè dàizi kě chéng wǔshí gōngjīn. [Pinyin]

   This bag can hold 50 kilos.

   他沒有家可住。／他没有家可住。  ―  Tā méiyǒu jiā kě zhù.  ―  He had no place to live.

   • 人之性，善可變為惡，惡可變為善。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     人之性，善可变为恶，恶可变为善。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Wang Chong, Lun Heng (Discussive Weighing), 80 CE

     Rén zhī xìng, shàn kě biànwéi è, è kě biànwéi shàn. [Pinyin]

     (please add an English translation of this usage example)

   • 國小而不處卑，力少而不畏强，無禮而侮大隣，貪愎而拙交者，可亡也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     国小而不处卑，力少而不畏强，无礼而侮大邻，贪愎而拙交者，可亡也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Han Feizi, circa 2^nd century BCE

     Guó xiǎo ér bù chǔ bēi, lì shǎo ér bù wèi qiáng, wúlǐ ér wǔ dà lín, tān bì ér zhuō jiāo zhě, kě wáng yě. [Pinyin]

     A country that is small and does not act modestly, being weak and does not fear strong power, being disrespectful and insults great neighbouring countries, being greedy and stubborn and is poor in diplomacy, might be destroyed.

2. to approve; to permit

   許可／许可  ―  xǔkě  ―  to permit, to allow

   認可／认可  ―  rènkě  ―  to approve

3. to fit; suit

   可心  ―  kěxīn  ―  satisfying

   可口  ―  kěkǒu  ―  tasty

4. to be worth doing

   可愛／可爱  ―  kě'ài  ―  cute; adorable (literally, “worth loving”)

   可歌可泣  ―  kěgēkěqì  ―  epic; moving (literally, “worth praising and crying over”)

   四川可玩的地方太多了。 [MSC, trad. and simp.]

   Sìchuān kě wán de dìfang tài duō le. [Pinyin]

   There are too many places in Sichuan worth visiting.

5. but; however

   Synonym: 可是 (kěshì)

6. A particle.
   1. (archaic or dialectal or in greetings) Used to form a question.

      您一向可好？  ―  Nín yīxiàng kě hǎo?  ―  How have you been lately?

      你可知罪？  ―  Nǐ kě zhī zuì?  ―  Do you comprehend of you committing the crime?

   2. (archaic or dialectal) Used to form a rhetorical question.
      • 16th century, chapter 31, in Journey to the West:

        是個甚麼孫行者？我可怕他？他若來，我剝了他皮，抽了他筋，啃了他骨，吃了他心！ [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
        是个甚么孙行者？我可怕他？他若来，我剥了他皮，抽了他筋，啃了他骨，吃了他心！ [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

        Shì ge shénme Sūn Xíngzhě? Wǒ kě pà tā? Tā ruò lái, wǒ bō le tā pí, chōu le tā jīn, kěn le tā gǔ, chī le tā xīn! [Pinyin]

        (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   3. Used in declarative sentences for emphasis.

      我喜歡的運動可多了。 [MSC, trad.]
      我喜欢的运动可多了。 [MSC, simp.]

      Wǒ xǐhuan de yùndòng kě duō le. [Pinyin]

      There are many sports that I like.

      我可不太知道。  ―  Wǒ kě bù tài zhīdào.  ―  I don't really know.

   4. Used in exclamatory sentences for emphasis.

      這可不行啊！／这可不行啊！  ―  Zhè kě bùxíng a!  ―  But this won't do!

   5. Used in imperative sentences for emphasis.
7. (literary) about; around
8. (literary) to recover completely (from an illness)

   • 待軍師病可，行之未遲。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
     待军师病可，行之未迟。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

     From: Romance of the Three Kingdoms, circa 14^th century CE

     Dài jūnshī bìng kě, xíng zhī wèi chí. [Pinyin]

     (please add an English translation of this usage example)

Compounds

Pronunciation

Definitions

可

1. Only used in 可汗 (kèhán).

Readings

• Go-on: か (ka, Jōyō)
• Kan-on: か (ka, Jōyō)
• On: こく (koku)
• Kun: よい (yoi, 可い)、べし (beshi, 可し)、ばかり (bakari)

Compounds

Hanja

可 (eumhun 옳을 가 (oreul ga))

1. hanja form^? of 가 (“possible; allowed”)

Hanja

可 (eumhun 오랑캐 극 (orangkae geuk))

1. hanja form^? of 극 (“barbarian”)

Derived terms