Meaning of 可以
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- can
- may
- possible
- able to
- not bad
- pretty good
How to use 可以
可以 comes before a verb to give permission or say something is possible, and it can also stand alone as "okay" or "not bad". 我可以坐这儿吗？ (Wǒ kěyǐ zuò zhèr ma?) May I sit here? Said about food or work, 还可以 (hái kěyǐ) means "it's alright, pretty good."
可 (kě) means "can" or "approve" and 以 (yǐ) means "by means of", so 可以 is "can, by some means". Think of 可 as a nod of approval: the door is open, you may go ahead.
Common mistake: Learners use 可以 for learned skills, but 会 (huì) is used for abilities like 我会说中文 (I can speak Chinese). Also, 可 and 以 are both third tone, so 可以 is pronounced kéyǐ in speech, with the first syllable rising.
可以 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
可 kě · can · 5 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
以 yǐ · to use · 4 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
Related words
Words that share a character with 可以.
| 可能 | kěnéng | might (happen); possible |
| 所以 | suǒyǐ | therefore; as a result |
| 以为 | yǐwéi | to think; to believe (often with the implication that the belief is mistaken – unless refe |
| 可是 | kěshì | but; however; (used for emphasis) indeed |
| 以前 | yǐqián | before; formerly |
| 以后 | yǐhòu | after; later |
| 可爱 | kě'ài | adorable; cute |
| 可怕 | kěpà | awful; dreadful |
| 以上 | yǐshàng | that level or higher; that amount or more; the above-mentioned |
| 以外 | yǐwài | apart from; other than |
| 以下 | yǐxià | that level or lower; that amount or less |
| 以来 | yǐlái | since (used after a specified time or event) |
Questions about 可以
What does 可以 mean?
可以 (kěyǐ) means "can; may" and is used as a verb.
How do you write 可以?
可以 is made of 2 characters: 可 (5 strokes), 以 (4 strokes). That is 9 strokes in total.
Is 可以 an HSK word?
Yes. 可以 is on the HSK 2 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How do I say "cannot" with 可以?
For refusing permission, people usually say 不可以 (bù kěyǐ) or 不能 (bù néng), as in 这里不可以抽烟 (You can't smoke here). To answer a 可以 question briefly, just say 可以 for yes or 不行 (bù xíng) for no.
What is the difference between 可以 and 能?
They overlap a lot, but 可以 leans toward permission and 能 (néng) leans toward physical ability or circumstances. 你可以走了 means "you may leave now," while 我今天不能来 means "I'm unable to come today."