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可能kě néngmight (happen); possible; probable; maybe; perhaps

HSK 2word

By Chinese Copilot · Last updated

可能 (kě néng) means "might," "possible," "probable," or "perhaps." Place it before a verb or clause to show that something may happen without claiming certainty. Negate as 不可能 for "impossible." It can also work as a noun meaning possibility or probability.

What does 可能 mean?

  1. 1.

    might (happen); possible; probable; maybe; perhapsadverb

  2. 2.

    possibility; probabilitynoun

What do the characters in 可能 mean?

  • 可(prefix) can; may; able to; -able
  • 能can; to be able to; might possibly

How do you use 可能?

可能 marks that something might be true or might happen; put it before the verb phrase, and use 不可能 when you mean it is not possible.

Patterns

  • Subj. + 可能 + Verb

    他可能来。

    Tā kě néng lái.

    He might come.

  • 不可能

    这不可能。

    Zhè bù kě néng.

    That's impossible.

  • 可能…,也可能…

    我可能去,也可能不去。

    Wǒ kě néng qù, yě kě néng bù qù.

    I might go, or I might not.

What are some examples of 可能 in a sentence?

  1. 他可能来。

    Tā kěnéng lái.

    He might come.

  2. 明天他可能不来。

    Míngtiān tā kěnéng bù lái.

    He might not come tomorrow.

  3. 这不可能。

    Zhè bù kěnéng.

    That's impossible.

  4. 我可能去,也可能不去。

    Wǒ kěnéng qù, yě kěnéng bù qù.

    I might go, or I might not.

How is 可能 different from 能?

可能 means "might / maybe" (you are not sure). 能 means "can / be able to" (ability or circumstance). 他可能来 = he might come; 他能来 = he is able to come.

Only 可能 fits here

他可能来。

Tā kě néng lái.

He might come.

How is 可能 used in a conversation?

  1. Speaker A:

    他明天来吗?

    Tā míngtiān lái ma?

    Is he coming tomorrow?

  2. Speaker B:

    可能来,我不知道。

    Kěnéng lái, wǒ bù zhīdào.

    He might come; I don't know.

  3. Speaker A:

    你可能去吗?

    Nǐ kěnéng qù ma?

    Might you go?

  4. Speaker B:

    可能去,也可能不去。

    Kěnéng qù, yě kěnéng bù qù.

    I might go, or I might not.

  5. Speaker A:

    那不可能吧?

    Nà bù kěnéng ba?

    That's impossible, right?

  6. Speaker B:

    对,不可能。

    Duì, bù kěnéng.

    Right, it's impossible.

Can you use 可能 correctly?

0 of 3 answered
  1. 1.Fill in the blank: 他___来。
  2. 2.Which means "That's impossible"?
  3. 3.Which word fits "He might come" (not sure)?

What should you learn next?

English glosses on this page are adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG (snapshot 2026-10-23), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Glosses were edited for learners.