HSK 2 · Modal Verbs

可以 kěyǐ “can” in Chinese

Said as kéyǐ

Same in Traditional

What 可以 means

  1. can, may
  2. possible
  3. able to
  4. not bad
  5. pretty good

How to say 可以

  • Pitch chart of the third tone: dips low then rises, 2 to 1 to 4 on the five-level scale可kě3rd tone, dipping
  • Pitch chart of the third tone: dips low then rises, 2 to 1 to 4 on the five-level scale以yǐ3rd tone, dipping

Said as kéyǐ. When two third tones meet, the first one rises into a second tone. You still write it with two third tones. How tone changes work

可以 in a sentence

  1. 没关系，我可以等。

    Méi guānxi, wǒ kěyǐ děng.

    That’s OK, I can wait.

    Sentence #2303393 from Tatoeba · translation adapted

  2. 你可以坐出租车。

    Nǐ kěyǐ zuò chūzūchē.

    You can take a taxi.

    Sentence #4563024 from Tatoeba

  3. 我也可以去吗？

    Wǒ yě kěyǐ qù ma?

    Can I come too?

    Sentence #891435 from Tatoeba

How 可以 is built

Each colour is one part of the character. Parts repeat across thousands of characters, so learning them makes new words easier. See all 214 in our radicals chart.

The character 可 (kě) with each of its parts in a different colour
可kěcan; may; able to; -able
  • 丁part of the characterMeaning part
  • 口mouth · kǒuSound part

Memory aidPicture a mouth 口 saying yes: can, may.

The character 以 (yǐ) drawn as one shape
以yǐto use

以 is a single shape of 4 strokes. Learn it whole, then watch its stroke order below.

How to write 可以

可 5 strokes · 以 4 strokes

Watch the order, then press Try writing it and draw each stroke in the grid. Each stroke is checked as you go.

可以 (kěyǐ) stroke order chart: each stroke of the characters in the order you write them
Stroke order chart for 可以 (kěyǐ). Red marks the next stroke, so you can copy it onto paper one step at a time.

Words related to 可以

Words with 可

可能kěnéng · maybe可kě · but可爱kě'ài · cute可怜kělián · pitiful可惜kěxī · it is a pity可是kěshì · but可靠kěkào · reliable可怕kěpà · awful可见kějiàn · it can clearly be seen (that this is the case)宁可nìngkě · preferably

Words with 以

所以suǒyǐ · so以前yǐqián · before以后yǐhòu · after以下yǐxià · below以上yǐshàng · above以外yǐwài · apart from以yǐ · with以为yǐwéi · to think (wrongly)以及yǐjí · and以来yǐlái · since (a previous event)

More words: Modal Verbs & Connectors

别bié · don’t可能kěnéng · maybe要yào · want为什么wèishénme · why也yě · also但是dànshì · but虽然suīrán · although再zài · again

FAQs

可以 (kěyǐ) means “can, may” or “possible”. It is an HSK 2 word, so it is one of the words learners meet early.
Say it kěyǐ: kě with a 3rd tone, then yǐ with a 3rd tone. In speech it sounds like kéyǐ. When two third tones meet, the first one rises into a second tone. You still write it with two third tones. Press Listen at the top of this page to hear it, or Slowly to hear each tone clearly.
Yes. 可以 is written the same way in Simplified and Traditional characters.
Add a Chinese (Simplified) pinyin keyboard to your phone or computer, type keyi with no tone marks or spaces, then choose 可以 from the suggestions. Typing keyi into this dictionary’s search box finds it too.
可以 is an HSK 2 word in the HSK 2.0 word lists.

Turn words into conversations

A dictionary gives you the words. A native teacher shows you how to use them. Start with a free 30-minute intro call.

Book a free intro call

Sources: meaning and pinyin checked by a native Mandarin teacher against the official HSK lists. Extra meanings from CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA 4.0). Example sentences from Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR). Character parts and stroke order from Make Me a Hanzi.