可能kě néngmight (happen); possible; probable; maybe; perhaps
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.
might (happen); possible; probable; maybe; perhapsadverb
- 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?
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?
- Speaker A:
他明天来吗?
Tā míngtiān lái ma?
Is he coming tomorrow?
- Speaker B:
可能来,我不知道。
Kěnéng lái, wǒ bù zhīdào.
He might come; I don't know.
- Speaker A:
你可能去吗?
Nǐ kěnéng qù ma?
Might you go?
- Speaker B:
可能去,也可能不去。
Kěnéng qù, yě kěnéng bù qù.
I might go, or I might not.
- Speaker A:
那不可能吧?
Nà bù kěnéng ba?
That's impossible, right?
- Speaker B:
对,不可能。
Duì, bù kěnéng.
Right, it's impossible.
Can you use 可能 correctly?
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Related words
- 能néngcan; to be able toHSK 1
- 可以kě yǐcan; may; possible; able toHSK 1
- 会huìcan; to have the skill; to know how toHSK 1
- 要yàoto want; to need; to ask forHSK 1
- 不bùno; not so; (bound form) not; un-HSK 1
- 想xiǎngto desire; to want (to)HSK 1
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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.