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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.

Don't confuse with:

This word has been viewed 25500 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
See all 202 compounds (CantoDict reports 217 compounds in total, but some may be Common Formations)

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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CantoDict v1.4.2 is a collaborative Chinese Dictionary project started in November 2003. Entries are added and mistakes corrected by a team of kind volunteers from around the world.
Copyright Adam Sheik 2003-2024.