可 kě — may, can · English

可

kě

may, can

At a glance · 可

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Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

可字小篆从丁从口，会意为许可、赞同，本义为可以、许可。甲骨文未见。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

可本义为许可、可以，助动词。

Structure

会意字，从丁（斧）从口，表示以言许可。

At a glance

Pinyinkě

Radical口

Strokes5

UnicodeU+53EF

Character type会意

Theme虚词

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English may, can Ke is an associative character meaning may and can.

Français pouvoir, pouvoir Ke est un caractère associatif signifiant pouvoir et permettre.

Español poder, poder Ke es un carácter asociativo que significa poder y permitir.

العربية يمكن، يسمح كه حرف تركيبي يعني يمكن والسماح.

Русский можно, мочь Кэ — ассоциативный знак, означающий можно и мочь.

Common words

可以kě yǐcan
可爱kě àilovely

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