Chinese–EnglishWith examples

可以

kě yǐ · ke yi

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 2

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. can
  2. may
  3. possible
  4. able to
  5. not bad
  6. pretty good
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In a conversation

0:20 cartoon

Can I sit here?

  1. Liangliang

    请问(qǐngwèn)，这里(zhèlǐ)可以(kěyǐ)坐(zuò)吗(ma)？

    Excuse me, may I sit here?

  2. Dengdeng

    可以(kěyǐ)，请坐(qǐngzuò)。

    Yes, please sit.

  3. Liangliang

    谢谢(xièxie)。我(wǒ)可以(kěyǐ)看看(kànkan)你的(nǐde)书(shū)吗(ma)？

    Thanks. May I look at your book?

  4. Dengdeng

    可以(kěyǐ)，请看(qǐngkàn)。

    Yes, please.

  5. Liangliang

    那(nà)我(wǒ)可以(kěyǐ)用一下(yòngyīxià)你的(nǐde)手机(shǒujī)吗(ma)？

    Then may I use your phone?

  6. Dengdeng

    不(bù)可以(kěyǐ)！我们(wǒmen)才(cái)认识(rènshi)三(sān)分钟(fēnzhōng)。

    No! We've only known each other three minutes.

Tap a word for its meaning in this line. The characters’ voices are computer-generated.

In a sentence

2 examples
01

为(wèi)什(shén)么(me)太(tài)郎(láng)英(yīng)语(yǔ)可(kě)以(yǐ)说(shuō)得(de)这(zhè)么(me)好(hǎo)？

Why can Taro speak English so well?

Tatoeba: Chinese by Martha · English by CN · CC BY 2.0 FR. Simplified Chinese conversion; Pinyin added or corrected.

02

你(nǐ)可(kě)以(yǐ)告(gào)诉(sù)我(wǒ)要(yào)怎(zěn)么(me)去(qù)火(huǒ)车(chē)站(zhàn)吗(ma)?

Can you tell me how to get to the train station?

Tatoeba: Chinese by umidake · English by Joseph · CC BY 2.0 FR. Simplified Chinese conversion; Pinyin added or corrected.

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How to write

Stroke order & practice

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Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

The characters

Explore individually
可
kě

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

以
yǐ

to use; by means of

Individual character meanings do not always explain the meaning of a whole word.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

More words starting with KExplore words in context