可

kě

HSK 3

可 — kě

1. can; may; to be able to (modal verb)

   你可以进来。 nǐ kěyǐ jìnlái — You may come in.

2. (suffix) -able; indicating capability/admissibility

   这个方案完全可行，我们今天就开始。 zhège fāngàn wánquán kěxíng wǒmen jīntiān jiù kāishǐ — This plan is entirely feasible; let's start today.

3. to approve; to permit; to agree to

   经过讨论，会议许可了他的提议。 jīngguò tǎolùn huìyì xǔkě le tā de tíyì — After discussion, the meeting approved his proposal.

4. (particle) certainly; indeed; used for emphasis

   他可会唱歌了！ tā kěhuì chànggē le — He really can sing!

5. but; however (colloquial conjunction/contrastive use)

   我想去，可我太忙了。 wǒ xiǎngqù kě wǒ tài máng le — I want to go, but I'm too busy.

可 — kè

1. used only in the proper name 可汗 (kèhán) — transliteration element

   成吉思汗是著名的蒙古可汗。 chéngjísīhán shì zhùmíng de ménggǔ kèhán — Genghis Khan is a famous Mongol Khan.