Chinese–EnglishWith examples

可能

kě néng · ke neng

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 2Measure word: 个 gè

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. might (happen)
  2. possible
  3. probable
  4. possibility
  5. probability
  6. maybe
  7. perhaps
Embed this word

Put this word on your class page or blog. Keep the link under the frame, so people can find the word. More widgets

In a conversation

0:18 cartoon

Where is Qiqi?

  1. Dengdeng

    琦琦(qíqí)怎么(zěnme)还(hái)没(méi)来(lái)？

    Why has Qiqi not come yet?

  2. Liangliang

    可能(kěnéng)堵车(dǔchē)了(le)。

    Maybe there is a traffic jam.

  3. Dengdeng

    也(yě)可能(kěnéng)是(shì)睡过头(shuìguòtóu)了(le)。

    Or maybe she overslept.

  4. Liangliang

    还(hái)可能(kěnéng)是(shì)走错(zǒucuò)路(lù)了(le)。

    Or maybe she took a wrong turn.

  5. Dengdeng

    反正(fǎnzhèng)她(tā)可能(kěnéng)马上(mǎshàng)就(jiù)到(dào)。

    Anyway, she may arrive any minute.

  6. Qiqi

    我(wǒ)早就(zǎojiù)到(dào)了(le)，在(zài)你们(nǐmen)后面(hòumian)！

    I got here ages ago! I am behind you!

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

In a sentence

2 examples
01

它(tā)可(kě)能(néng)永(yǒng)远(yuǎn)都(dōu)不(bú)会(huì)发(fā)生(shēng)。

It may never happen.

Tatoeba: Chinese by verdastelo9604 · English by CK · CC BY 2.0 FR. Simplified Chinese conversion; Pinyin added or corrected.

02

明(míng)天(tiān)可(kě)能(néng)会(huì)下(xià)雨(yǔ)，你(nǐ)最(zuì)好(hǎo)带(dài)把(bǎ)伞(sǎn)。

It might rain tomorrow; you'd better bring an umbrella.

Sources & licenses

How to write

Stroke order & practice

Choose a character to watch its strokes or trace it yourself.

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

能
néng

can; to be able to

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