可

Almost always supplies the sound (roughly kē / hé / gē / ā) rather than meaning · Character component

Almost always supplies the sound (roughly kē / hé / gē / ā) rather than meaning, though on its own it carries the idea of assent — "may, can, be allowed"

The old graph combines a mouth 口 with 丂, a sign showing breath or a call rising and bending as it meets an obstruction, so the whole suggests speaking out — either shouting or granting approval; which of those came first is disputed. In the modern shape you can still read both parts: the long hooked stroke 丁 wrapping around the small square 口 tucked into its corner. In compounds it mostly just lends its sound, as in 河 (water + 可 = river), 何, 柯, 珂 and 阿, and it also hides inside 哥 (two 可 stacked) and 奇.

可 at a glance

Meaning

Almost always supplies the sound (roughly kē / hé / gē / ā) rather than meaning

Strokes

5

Characters

20

Role

Contributes sound

Characters with 可 (18 of 20)

Frequently asked questions