可 kě — can; may; able to; certain(ly); to suit; (particle used for emphasis)
这里的风景可真美。Zhè lǐ de fēng jǐng kě zhēn měi.The scenery here is really beautiful.
Common words: 可以 (kě yǐ)、可能 (kě néng)、可是 (kě shì)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "may"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "may", including 可 (kě), 能 (néng). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words, and examples.
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "may" covers 2 different Chinese characters — 可 (kě), 能 (néng) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 2 characters do not share a sound — their readings span kě, néng — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 可 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 可 kěcan; may; able to; certain(ly); to suit; (particle used for emphasis)Useful words: 可以, 可能
- 能 néngcan; may; capable; energy; ableUseful words: 可能, 能够
Common words for these 2 "may" characters
Anchor each of these 2 characters in a word you can picture — start with 可 (kě) — so "may" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
可以kě yǐcan; may; possible; able to可能kě néngmight (happen); possible; probable; possibility可是kě shìbut; however; (used for emphasis) indeed可能kě néngmight (happen); possible; probable; possibility能够néng gòuto be capable of; to be able to; can只能zhǐ néngcan only; obliged to do sth; to have no other choice
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 2 ways to say "may".
能 néng — can; may; capable; energy; able
我能帮你拿行李吗？Wǒ néng bāng nǐ ná xíng li ma?Can I help you carry the luggage?
Common words: 可能 (kě néng)、能够 (néng gòu)、只能 (zhǐ néng)
All 2 characters
Open 可、能 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.