可

Character

可 kě · kè

HSK 2Character2 readings

can; may (as in 可以 kě yǐ)

Radical: 口
Strokes: 5
Structure: Overlaid
Parts: 丁口
Traditional: 可
Frequency: #52 most common character

Practice writing

Readings and meanings

kěMain reading kèRare reading

kě

ke3Main readingHSK 5

can; may (as in 可以 kě yǐ)
possible; maybe (as in 可能 kě néng)
but; however (as in 可是 kě shì)

Examples

你可以帮我吗？
nǐ kě yǐ bāng wǒ ma
Can you help me?
AI-generated sentence
今天可能会下雨。
jīn tiān kě néng huì xià yǔ
It might rain today.
AI-generated sentence
东西很好，可太贵了。
dōng xi hěn hǎo kě tài guì le
The thing is good, but too expensive.
AI-generated sentence

Words that use “可” as kě

可以kě yǐcanWordHSK 2 可怕kě pàscaryWordHSK 2 可是kě shìbutWordHSK 2 可爱kě àicuteWordHSK 2 可能kě néngmaybeWordHSK 2 可乐kě lècolaWordHSK 3 可靠kě kàoable to be trustedWordHSK 3 认可rèn kěto accept someone or something as good, right, or trueWordHSK 3

kè

ke4Reading 2Rare reading

This reading is uncommon in everyday Chinese; the main reading is kě.

used in 可汗 (kè hán) CC-CEDICT

Words that use “可” as kè

可汗kè hánkhanWord

Stroke order

Practice writing 可

Draw “可” here — the faint guide shows its shape.

See all 378 words with 可 →

Same radical 口

All characters with 口 →

和hé 吗ma 嗎ma 后hòu 名míng 台tái 同tóng 员yuán 員yuán 喜xǐ 噹dāng 吃chī

可