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  ho2 hak1   jyutping
  ke3 ke4   pinyin
[1] [v] can; may; be able to
[2] [v] approve; permit; agree
[3] [v] need (doing); be worth (doing); fit
[4] [conj] but; however; yet
[5] [adv] ever; actually; at all (for emphasis)


The readings ho2/ke3 are used in virtually all contexts. hak1/ke4 are used only in the term 可汗 (khan).
Default PoS: verb Additional PoS: adverbconjunction
Stroke count: 5
Level: 1
Radical: (#30)

This character is used in both Cantonese and Mandarin/Standard written Chinese.

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This word has been viewed 25541 times since 30th Oct 2012, was added by sheik on 18th Mar 2007 21:22 and last edited on 16th Jun 2015 15:37

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detail  ho2 ji5  ke3 yi3 = can, may, be allowed to
detail  ho2 oi3  ke3 ai4 = cute
detail  bat1 ho2  bu4 ke3 = cannot; not able to
detail  ho2 hau2  ke3 kou3 = tasty; to taste good
detail  ho2 lok6   = cola
detail  ho2 hau2 ho2 lok6  ke3 kou3 ke3 le4 = Coca-Cola
detail  ho2 nang4  ke3 neng2 = maybe; probably; possibly; able
detail  m4 ho2 ji5   = cannot
detail  bat1 ho2 nang4  bu4 ke3 neng2 = impossible
detail  mou5 ho2 nang4   = impossible
detail  ho2 si6  ke3 shi4 = but; however
detail  ho2 siu3  ke3 xiao4 = funny; ridiculous
detail  ho2 hang4  ke3 xing2 = feasible
detail  ho2 ho2  ke3 ke3 = cocoa
detail  dou1 ho2 ji5  dou1 ke3 yi3 = all OK
detail  ho2 gin3  ke3 jian4 = clear (it is the case), visible
detail  jau5 ho2 nang4  you3 ke3 neng2 = it is possible
detail  waan4 ho2 ji5  hai2 ke3 yi3 = also acceptable; still acceptable
detail  loeng5 ho2   = both will do
detail  zeon6 ho2 nang4  jin3 ke3 neng2 = variant of 儘可能
detail  bat1 ho2 sou2 dik1  bu4 ke3 shu3 de5 = uncountable
detail  bat1 ho2 bat1  bu4 ke3 bu4 = cannot not; must
detail  mei6 ho2  wei4 ke3 = cannot
detail  mou4 ho2  wu2 ke3 = can't
detail  ho2 hei3  ke3 qi4 = annoying; exasperating
detail  ho2 sam1  ke3 xin1 = satisfying; to the satisfaction (or liking) of
detail  hou2 ho2 nang4   = probably
detail  ho2 gwai3   = valuable
detail  ho2 can1  ke3 qin1 = amiable; kindly; nice
detail  zeon2 ho2 nang4  jin3 ke3 neng2 = as far as possible
detail  ho2 daai6 ho2 siu2  ke3 da4 ke3 xiao3 = could be serious
detail  ho2 kaa1 jan1  ke3 ka3 yin1 = cocaine
detail  ho2 lin4  ke3 lian2 = pitiful; pity; sympathy
detail  ho2 paa3  ke3 pa4 = scary; terrifying
detail  ho2 sik1  ke3 xi1 = what a waste; what a pity
detail  mou4 waa6 ho2 syut3  wu2 hua4 ke3 shuo1 = faultless; flawless; above criticism
detail  jing6 ho2  ren4 ke3 = to approve; to certify
detail  jau4 ci2 ho2 gin3  you2 ci3 ke3 jian4 = from this it can be seen that
detail  heoi2 ho2  xu3 ke3 = to allow; to permit
detail  mou4 ho2 fung6 gou3  wu2 ke3 feng4 gao4 = no comment
detail  mou4 ho2 noi6 ho4  wu2 ke3 nai4 he2 = (saying) have no alternative; have no way out; have Hobson's choice
detail  daai6 jau5 ho2 wai4  da4 you3 ke3 wei2 = to have potential for great things; worth doing
detail  ho2 nang4 sing3  ke3 neng2 xing4 = possibility, probability
detail  ho2 ji4  ke3 yi2 = [1] suspicious; [2] dubious
detail  ho2 wai6  ke3 wei4 = it could even be said
detail  ho2 kaau3  ke3 kao4 = reliable
detail  bat1 ho2 fan1 got3   = indivisibility
detail  ho2 ji5 bei6 min5  ke3 yi3 bi4 mian3 = evitable, avoidable
detail  ho2 gaa1   = praisable
detail  jan2 mou4 ho2 jan2  ren3 wu2 ke3 ren3 = beyond endurance; cannot bear for any time
detail  heoi2 ho2 zing3   = licence; license; permit; warrant
detail  gin6 ji4 ho2 lok6   = Diet Coke
detail  ho2 mong6   = within sight/hope/expectation
detail  mou4 ho2 fau2 jing6   = incontestable; undeniable; admitted
detail  bat1 ho2 syut3   = ineffable
detail  fei1 bat1 ho2   = must
detail  caai4 ho2 fu1   = chauffeur
detail  gaam2 fei4 ho2 lok6   = Diet Coke
detail  bat1 ho2 jat1 sai3  bu4 ke3 yi1 shi4 = consider oneself unexcelled in the world; be insufferably arrogant
detail  bat1 ho2 gu2 loeng6  bu4 ke3 gu1 liang4 = inestimable; incalculable; beyond measure
detail  bat1 ho2 fan1 lei4  bu4 ke3 fen1 li2 = inseparable
detail  bat1 ho2 tung4 jat6 ji4 jyu5  bu4 ke3 tong2 ri4 er2 yu3 = cannot be mentioned in the same breath
detail  bat1 ho2 gou3 jan4  bu4 ke3 gao4 ren2 = hidden; kept secret; not to be divulged
detail  bat1 ho2 do1 dak1  bu4 ke3 duo1 de2 = hard to come by; rare
detail  bat1 ho2 kong3 lik6  bu4 ke3 kang4 li4 = force majeure; act of God, beyond human control
detail  bat1 ho2 sau1 sap6  bu4 ke3 shou1 shi5 = unmanageable, out of hand, hopeless
detail  bat1 ho2 gau3 joek6  bu4 ke3 jiu4 yao4 = incurable; beyond cure; hopeless
detail  bat1 ho2 mo4 mit6  bu4 ke3 mo2 mie4 = indelible
detail  bat1 ho2 zung1 jat6  bu4 ke3 zhong1 ri4 = be unable to carry on even for a single day; be in a desperate situation
detail  bat1 ho2 kyut3 siu2  bu4 ke3 que1 shao3 = absolutely necessary; indispensable; essential
detail  bat1 ho2 nang4 dik1 si6  bu4 ke3 neng2 de5 shi4 = impossibility
detail  ning4 ho2  ning4 ke3 = would rather
detail  bat1 ho2 cam1 faan6 kyun4  bu4 ke3 qin1 fan4 quan2 = inviolability
detail  bat1 ho2 sing1 sou2  bu4 ke3 sheng4 shu3 = countless; innumerable
detail  bat1 ho2 ming4 zong6  bu4 ke3 ming2 zhuang4 = beyond description; indescribable
detail  bit1 bat1 ho2 siu2  bi4 bu4 ke3 shao3 = absolutely necessary; indispensable; essential
detail  bit1 bat1 ho2 siu2 zou2 sing4  bi4 bu4 ke3 shao3 zu3 cheng2 = absolute necessity; sine qua non
detail  syu1 min6 heoi2 ho2  shu1 mian4 xu3 ke3 = written permission; written authorization
detail  jau5 lei6 ho2 tou4  you3 li4 ke3 tu2 = profitable
detail  mou4 gaa1 ho2 gwai1  wu2 jia1 ke3 gui1 = homeless
detail  ho2 bat1 si6 mo1  ke3 bu4*2 shi4 me5 = Isn't that so! Yes, indeed!
detail  ho2 bat1 si6 maa3  ke3 bu2 shi4 ma5 = Isn't that so! Yes, indeed!
detail  bat1 ho2 zoi3 sang1 dik1  bu4 ke3 zai4 sheng1 de5 = non-renewable
detail  bat1 ho2 zoi3 sang1 dik1 nang4 jyun4  bu4 ke3 zai4 sheng1 de5 neng2 yuan2 = non-renewable energy source
detail  bat1 ho2 aat3 suk1 dik1  bu4 ke3 ya1 suo1 de5 = incompressible
detail  bat1 ho2 wan6 jung4 dik1  bu4 ke3 hun4 rong2 de5 = immiscible
detail  bat1 ho2 jung4 dik1  bu4 ke3 rong2 de5 = insoluble
detail  ho2 zoi3 sang1 dik1  ke3 zai4 sheng1 de5 = renewable
detail  ho2 aat3 suk1 dik1  ke3 ya1 suo1 de5 = compressible
detail  ho2 bat1 si6  ke3 bu5 shi4 = that's just the way it is; exactly
detail  coi4 caan2 bat1 ho2 cam1 faan6  cai2 chan3 bu4 ke3 qin1 fan4 = [n] inviolability of property
detail  ho2 seon3 jam6  ke3 xin4 ren4 = trusty
detail  ho2 jung4 jan2  ke3 rong2 ren3 = tolerable
detail  ho2 zyun1 ging3  ke3 zun1 jing4 = respectable
detail  ho2 dak1 dou3*2  ke3 de2 dao4 = available
detail  ho2 soeng2 zoeng6  ke3 xiang3 xiang4 = conceivable
detail  ho2 caat3 se2  ke3 ca1 xie3 = erasable
detail  ho2 bei2  ke3 bi3 = comparable
detail  heoi2 ho2 hip3 ji5  xu3 ke3 xie2 yi4 = license
detail  bat1 ho2 gang1 san1 zi1 jyun4   = non-renewable resources
detail  ho2 fau2  ke3 fou3 = Can or cannot? Is it allowed/possible to do sth?
detail  mei6 ging1 jing6 ho2   = unapproved
detail  ho2 doi6 jan1   = codeine
detail  ko1 naau1 je1   = (from Cantonese opera) annoying, irritating, absurd speech
detail  jan4 bat1 ho2 ji5 maau6 soeng3   = don't judge a book by its cover
detail  bat1 ho2 wui4 bei6  bu4 ke3 hui2 bi4 = must be addressed
detail  gung1 bat1 ho2 mut6  gong1 bu4 ke3 mei2 = meritorious works
detail  gei1 bat1 ho2 sat1  ji1 bu4 ke3 shi1 = can't afford to lose the opportunity; not let the opportunity slip through one's fingers
detail  mou4 ho2 mou4 bat1 ho2  wu2 ke3 wu2 bu4 ke3 = not care one way or another
detail  ho2 wu3  ke3 wu4 = obnoxious; repulsive; abhorrent; hateful; abominable
detail  jan4 bat1 ho2 maau6 soeng3   = don't judge a book by its cover
detail  ho2 gang1 dei6  ke3 geng1 di4 = arable land
detail  ho2 gaang1 zung3  ke3 geng1 de4 = arable land; cultivable land
detail  ho2 jau5 ho2 mou4  ke3 you3 ke3 wu2 = not essential; not indispensable
detail  ho2 zi1 sing3  ke3 zhi1 xing4 = [philosophy] knowability
detail  mou4 ho2 zang1 bin6  wu2 ke3 zheng1 bian4 = indisputable; irrefutable
detail  ho2 bei1  ke3 bei1 = sad; lamentable
detail  jyu4 zi2 ho2 gaau3  ru2 zi3 ke3 jiao4 = teachableness; the young man is worthy to be taught
detail  mou4 ho2 bei6 min5   = unavoidable
detail  kyut3 jat1 bat1 ho2  que1 yi1 bu4 ke3 = none is dispensable
detail  bat1 ho2 si1 ji5   = beyond one's wildest imagination
detail  bat1 ho2 siu2  bu4 ke3 shao3 = absolutely necessary; indispensable; essential
detail  jan4 jin4 ho2 wai3  ren2 yan2 ke3 wei4 = criticisms should be feared
detail  ho2 caak3  ke3 chai1 = detachable; removable
detail  ho2 doi6 tai3   = fungible (lit., "can be substituted")
detail  naan4 nang4 ho2 gwai3   = rare and valuable
detail  jau5 kwik1 ho2 sing4  you3 xi4 ke3 cheng2 = there is a crack to squeeze through; there is a loophole to exploit
detail  wat1 zi2 ho2 sou2  qu1 zhi3 ke3 shu3 = can be counted on one's finger (very few)
detail  ci2 fung1 bat1 ho2 zoeng2  chi3 feng1 bu4 ke3 zhang3 = such trends should not be encouraged (lit., "these winds must not grow")
detail  mou4 ling4 loeng5 ho2  mo2 leng2 liang3*2 ke3 = ambiguous (in terms of reply, views, opinion etc)
detail  mou4 ho2 tai3 doi6  wu2 ke3 ti4 dai4 = cannot be replaced; irreplaceable
detail  ho2 ci2  ke3 chi3 = shameful; disgraceful; ignominious
detail  mou4 lei6 ho2 tou4  wu2 li4 ke3 tu2 = unprofitable
detail  ho2 jung6 sing3  ke3 yong4 xing4 = usability; availability
detail  ho2 go1 ho2 jap1  ke3 ge1 ke3 qi4 = epic
detail  wai4 ho2 lou4  wei2 ke3 lao2 = Velcro
detail  ho2 gin3 jan4  ke3 jian4 ren2 = to be presentable (in public)
detail  ho2 hyun1 ho2 dim2   = praiseworthy, notable, remarkable
detail  mei6 soeng4 bat1 ho2  wei4 chang2 bu4 ke3 = why not
detail  wo4 oi2 ho2 can1  he2 ai3 ke3 qin1 = amiable; affable; genial; easy to get along with
detail  fei1 tung4 siu2 ho2  fei1 tong2 xiao3 ke3 = no trivial matter
detail  ho2 ji5  ke3 yi4 = negotiable
detail  ho2 zi1 ze3 gaam3  ke3 zi1 jie4 jian4 = can serve as a object lesson; a lesson can be drawn from...
detail  mou4 ho2 hau5 fei1  wu2 ke3 hou4 fei1 = be not altogether inexcusable;give no cause for much criticism
detail  mei6 ho2 hau5 fei1  wei4 ke3 hou4 fei1 = be not altogether inexcusable;give no cause for much criticism
detail  sik1 ho2 ji4 zi2  shi4 ke3 er2 zhi3 = stop before you overdo sth.; stop once you've reached the limit
detail  ho2 hang4 sing3   = feasibility
detail  liu4 liu4 ho2 sou2  liao2 liao2 ke3 shu3 = very few; so few that they can be counted
detail  lok6 bat1 ho2 zi1  le4 bu4 ke3 zhi1 = overjoyed; to be overwhelmed with joy
detail  aa2 zai2 san1 jyun1, mou4 waa6 ho2 syut3  ya3 zai3 shen1 yuan1, wu2 hua4 ke3 shuo1 = when a mute seeks to redress an injustice, he is but speechless; to be lost for words when one seeks to defend himself
detail  mun4 ho2 lo4 zoek3  men2 ke3 luo2 que4 = have few visitors or customers;said of a business not doing well
detail  zik1 ho2  ji2 ke3 = that will do
detail  tin1 gei1 bat1 ho2 sit3 lau6  tian1 ji1 bu4 ke3 xie4 lou4 = mysteries of heaven must not be revealed
detail  ho2 soeng2 ji4 zi1  ke3 xiang3 er2 zhi1 = one may well imagine
detail  ho2 jat1 bat1 ho2 zoi3  ke3 yi1 bu4 ke3 zai4 = a one time opportunity; one only has one chance; once and never again
detail  bat1 ho2 joeng6 lou6 ngaan5  bu4 ke3 rang4 lu4 yan3 = must not be seen (lit., "cannot be yielded to eyes")
detail  jyu4 bat1 ho2 kap6  yu2 bu4 ke3 ji2 = incredibly foolish; couldn\'t be anymore stupid than
detail  ho2 ci4 zuk6 sing3  ke3 chi2 xu4 xing4 = sustainability
detail  miu6 bat1 ho2 jin4  miao4 bu4 ke3 yan2 = indescribably wonderful, brilliant, extraordinary
detail  fong4 jan4 zi1 sam1 bat1 ho2 mou4  fang2 ren2 zhi1 xin1 bu4 ke3 wu2 = people should always be on guard against those set on harming them
detail  bat1 ho2 lei5 jyu6  bu4 ke3 li3 yu4 = won't listen to reason
detail  bat1 ho2 gou3 jan4 dik1 si6  bu4 ke3 gao4 ren2 de5 shi6 = sth. shameful and secret
detail ...  fei1 dak1 bat1 ho2  fei1 dei3 bu4 ke3 = to absolutely have to do sth.
detail  tin1 gei1 bat1 ho2 sit3 lau6  tian1ji1 bu4 ke3 xie4 lou4 = not be able to confide a secret
detail  ho2 mong6 ji4 bat1 ho2 kap6  ke3 wang4 er2 bu4 ke3 ji2 = unattainable; inaccessible
detail  hak1 hon4  ke4 han2 = khan
detail  baak3 si6 ho2 lok6   = Pepsi Cola
detail  ho2 laan4 ging1  ke3 lan2 jing1 = the Koran
detail  bat1 ho2 zi1 leon6  bu4 ke3 zhi1 lun4 = agnosticism
detail  bat1 ho2 zi1 leon6 dik1  bu4 ke3 zhi1 lun4 de5 = agnostic
detail  bat1 ho2 zi1 leon6 ge3  bu4 ke3 zhi1 lun4 ge2 = agnostic
detail  bat1 ho2 waak6 kyut3  bu4 ke3 huo4 que1 = indispensable; essential; necessary
detail  mou5 hei3 ho2 jung6 mat6 zat1  wu3 qi4 ke3 yong4 wu4 zhi4 = weapons-usable material
detail  ho2 zoi3 sang1 dik1 nang4 jyun4  ke3 zai4 sheng1 de5 neng2 yuan2 = renewable energy source
detail  ho2 jung4 dik1  ke3 rong2 de5 = soluble
detail  ho2 sing4 sing3  ke3 cheng2 xing4 = [math.] multiplicative property
detail  ho2 gaa1 sing3  ke3 jia1 xing4 = [math.] additive property
detail  maa5 ho2 fuk1 jam1  ma3 ke3 fu2 yin1 = [Bible] Gospel of Mark
detail  mou4 ho2 zi3 ji4  wu2 ke3 zhi4 yi2 = beyond doubt
detail ,  haan1 dak1 zau6 haan1 , ho2 min5 zak1 min5   = not to spend or use anything unless it's necessary
detail  mou4 gai3 ho2 si1  wu2 ji4 ke3 shi1 = to have no plan or strategy to implement
detail  toe3 sau2 ho2 dak1  tuo4 shou3 ke3 de2 = very easy to acquire; easy to obtain
detail  seoi4 sau2 ho2 dak1  chui2 shou3 ke3 de2 = very easy to obtain; extremely easy to acquire
detail  jyu4 jyu5 hung4 zoeng2, bat1 ho2 gim1 dak1  yu2 yu3 xiong2 zhang3, bu4 ke3 jian1 de2 = have to choose between one or the other (because you can't have both)
detail  kap1 kap1 ho2 ngai4  ji2 ji2 ke3 wei1 [PRC], wei2 [TW] = imminent danger; precarious situation
detail  ho2 zi1 jan1 gaam3  ke3 zi1 yan1 jian4 = someone else's failure or setback from which one can draw a lesson
detail  ho2 sou3 sing3  ke3 su4 xing4 = malleability; moldability; plasticity
detail  ho2 jyu6 bat1 ho2 kau4  ke3 yu4 bu4 ke3 qiu2 = fortuitous
detail  ho2 lok6 beng2  ke3 le4 bing3 = croquette, Korokke
detail  san4 sing3 bat1 ho2 cam1 faan6  shen2 sheng4 bu4 ke4 qin1 fan4 = sacred and inviolable
detail  seoi1 mou4 gwo3 faan6, min6 muk6 ho2 zang1  sui1 wu2 guo4 fan4, mian4 mu4 ke3 zeng1 = your face alone is loathsome enough to offend people
detail  zek3 sau2 ho2 jit6  zhi4 shou3 ke3 re4 = the power went to his head
detail 滿  mun5 dei6 ho2  man3 di4 ke3 = Montreal
detail  caai4 ho2 fu1 si1 gei1  Chai2 ke1 fu1 si1 ji1 = Tchaikovsky
detail  ho2 ho2 tok3 hoi2  ke3 ke3 tuo1 hai3 = Keketuohai (place in Xinjiang)
detail  can4 ho2 san1   = Peter Chan (film director and producer)
detail  dou6 ho2 fung1   = Christopher Doyle (Australian born cinematographer, member of HKSC)
detail  ho2 hau2 ho2 lok6 gung1 si1  ke3 kou3 ke3 le4 gong1 si1 = Coca-Cola Company
detail  miu4 ho2 sau3  miao2 ke3 xiu4 = Nora Miao
detail  zoeng1 ho2 ji4  zhang1 ke3 yi2 = Maggie Cheung
detail  ho2 lai6 syu1   = Kleenex
detail  ling4 hai6 ho2 hau2 ho2 lok6   = Coca-Cola Zero

Showing 10 of 49 examples containing 可
detail audio 嗰個女仔可愛
That girl is so cute.
detail 可以見到  ? 
He can see me
detail 可惡究竟係咩
Ugh, what actually happened [just now]?
[This is a common phrase in some TV shows. 可惡 is an interjection meaning "ugh". 究竟係咩事呀 is a shorter form of 究竟係發生咩事呀, so literally we have "ugh, actually is happen what?"]
detail 唔可以上便
You can't stand on the table.
[Lit. you cannot stand at table surface. 唔可以 here carries the sense of "not allowed".]
detail 獵豹唔可以寵物
You can't keep a cheetah as a pet!
[Lit. cheetah cannot do pet [particle]]
detail audio 唔可以風扇
Can you please turn on the fan for me?
detail audio 我哋可以圖書館或者返屋企
We can go to the library or perhaps go home.
detail audio 乜都可以
Anything's possible.
detail 晚上可以看到上天空中星辰
At night you can see stars in the sky above your head.
detail audio 可以.
I can read (study) quickly.
[Illustrates use of V + 得 + modifier construct.]
Show all 49 examples

Legend
: This term is used in Mandarin/Standard written Chinese, not Cantonese.  
: This term is used in Cantonese, not Mandarin/Standard written Chinese.
No icon: This term is used in both Cantonese and Mandarin/Standard written Chinese.
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