可以kě yǐcan; may; possible; able to

1. 1.

   can; may; possible; able toverb

2. 2.

   not bad; pretty goodadjective

• 可(prefix) can; may; able to; -able
• 以not compositional here

可以 is the go-to word for permission; for a learned skill such as speaking Chinese, prefer 会 instead.

1. HSK 1

   我可以去吗？

   Wǒ kěyǐ qù ma?

   May I go? / Can I go?

2. HSK 1

   你可以来。

   Nǐ kěyǐ lái.

   You may come. / You can come.

3. HSK 1

   这里不可以玩。

   Zhèlǐ bù kěyǐ wán.

   You may not play here.

4. HSK 1

   孩子不可以看这个。

   Háizi bù kěyǐ kàn zhège.

   Children may not watch this.

可以 asks or gives permission ("may"). 会 marks a learned skill ("know how to"). For "May I come in / go?" use 可以; for "I can speak Chinese" use 会, not 可以.

1. 
   Speaker A:

   我可以去吗？

   Wǒ kěyǐ qù ma?

   May I go?

2. 
   Speaker B:

   可以，你去吧。

   Kěyǐ, nǐ qù ba.

   Yes, you may go.

3. 
   Speaker A:

   我可以看这个吗？

   Wǒ kěyǐ kàn zhège ma?

   May I look at this?

4. 
   Speaker B:

   不可以，孩子不可以看。

   Bù kěyǐ, háizi bù kěyǐ kàn.

   No, children may not watch it.

5. 
   Speaker A:

   现在可以来吗？

   Xiànzài kěyǐ lái ma?

   May I come now?

6. 
   Speaker B:

   可以。

   Kěyǐ.

   Yes, you may.

1. 1.Fill in the blank: 我___去吗？

   A可以B是以C有以
2. 2.Fill in the blank: 这里___玩。

   A不是以B不可以C没有以
3. 3.Which word fits asking permission to go?

   A会B可以C的

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Related words

• 能néngcan; to be able toHSK 1
• 会huìcan; to have the skill; to know how toHSK 1
• 不bùno; not so; (bound form) not; un-HSK 1
• 要yàoto want; to need; to ask forHSK 1
• 去qùto goHSK 1
• 来láito comeHSK 1

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