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可
Character learning workspace

kě / kè · may, can, -able

Master the form, understand its parts, and learn how it behaves in real Chinese.

HSK 3.0 · Level 3Frequency #96
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Learn every stroke in 可

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Stroke graphics: Make Me a Hanzi / Arphic Public License
Sound changes meaning

Readings & meanings

可 has 2 dictionary pronunciations. The examples show how each reading behaves in real words.

kě

(prefix) can; may; able to; -able

可以kě yǐ · can
kè

used in 可汗[ke4 han2]

Step-by-step explorer

See how 可 is constructed

Switch between the accumulated form and the isolated movement of each stroke.

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Character anatomy

Understand the reusable parts

The decomposition shows how the visual pieces fit together, not necessarily the character’s historical origin.

可=
丁dīngmale adult
+口kǒumouth
Writing notes

Shape and proportion

5Total strokes

Count each continuous pen movement once, including turns and hooks.

Upper-right enclosureCharacter structure

Keep the outer frame stable without crowding the enclosed strokes.

口Key radical

Use the highlighted radical in the animation as a visual anchor for remembering the form.

Print and practise

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Includes the stroke sequence, progressive tracing, and blank writing squares. Generated locally in your browser.

Vocabulary in context

Common words with 可

Open a word for its full breakdown, or listen before reading the meaning.

kě(prefix) can; may; able to; -able
Read and listen

Example sentences

Notice where 可 sits in each complete thought.

Nǐ kě yǐ kàn wǒ de.你可以看我的。

You can look at mine.

Source: Tatoeba #9507005 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Shì de, zhè shì kě néng de.是的，这是可能的。

Yes, it's possible.

Source: Tatoeba #10986119 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Kě yǐ de huà nǐ yě yì qǐ lái ba.可以的话你也一起来吧。

Come along with us if you like.

Source: Tatoeba #344984 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ wèn tā wǒ kě bu kě yǐ kàn tā de shū.我问他我可不可以看他的书。

I asked him if I could read his book.

Source: Tatoeba #713103 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā xiǎng huí jiā, dàn shì tā bù kě yǐ.他想回家，但是他不可以。

He wants to go home, but he can't.

Source: Tatoeba #12278090 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā shuō de bù kě néng shì zhēn de.他说的不可能是真的。

What he said cannot be true.

Source: Tatoeba #3666915 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 可 in context

  1. Say kě / kè, then recall the core meaning: may, can, -able.
  2. Write all 5 strokes while keeping the upper-right enclosure balanced.
  3. Use it in 可以 (kě yǐ), meaning “can”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 可 works in that context.

Definitions and traditional forms are compiled from Make Me a Hanzi, HSK curriculum data, and CC-CEDICT. Sourced example sentences link to Tatoeba; editorial examples are labeled separately. Review data sources and licenses.