Meaning of 可能
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- might (happen)
- possible
- probable
- possibility
- probability
- maybe
- perhaps
Measure word: 個|个
How to use 可能
可能 often goes before a verb or at the start of a sentence to mean 'maybe' or 'probably'. It can also be an adjective (possible) or a noun (possibility), as in 有可能 (yǒu kěnéng, it is possible). Example: 明天可能下雨。(Míngtiān kěnéng xià yǔ.) It might rain tomorrow.
可 (kě) means 'can' or 'may' and 能 (néng) means 'able'. Put them together: if something can and is able to happen, it is possible.
Common mistake: Learners often use 可能 to mean 'can' in the sense of ability or permission, but 我可能游泳 means 'I might swim', not 'I can swim'. For ability use 会 (huì) or 能 (néng), and for permission use 可以 (kěyǐ).
可能 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
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能 néng · can · 10 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 可能.
| 可以 | kěyǐ | can; may |
| 可是 | kěshì | but; however; (used for emphasis) indeed |
| 只能 | zhǐ néng | can only; obliged to do sth |
| 可爱 | kě'ài | adorable; cute |
| 能够 | nénggòu | to be capable of; to be able to |
| 可怕 | kěpà | awful; dreadful |
| 才能 | cáinéng | talent; ability |
| 能力 | nénglì | capability; ability |
| 可靠 | kěkào | reliable |
| 功能 | gōngnéng | function; capability |
| 可乐 | kělè | amusing; entertaining |
| 认可 | rènkě | to approve; approval |
Questions about 可能
What does 可能 mean?
可能 (kěnéng) means "might (happen); possible" and is used as a verb, adjective and noun.
How do you write 可能?
可能 is made of 2 characters: 可 (5 strokes), 能 (10 strokes). That is 15 strokes in total.
Is 可能 an HSK word?
Yes. 可能 is on the HSK 2 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 可能 and 也许 (yěxǔ)?
Both can mean 'maybe' or 'perhaps' before a verb. 也许 is only an adverb, while 可能 can also be an adjective or noun, as in 不可能 (bù kěnéng, impossible) or 这种可能 (this possibility).
How do I say 'impossible' or 'very likely' with 可能?
Use 不可能 (bù kěnéng) for 'impossible', as in 这不可能。(Zhè bù kěnéng.) That's impossible. For 'very likely', say 很可能 (hěn kěnéng), as in 他很可能迟到。(Tā hěn kěnéng chídào.) He will very likely be late.