Usage note
这个词用来表示可能性或许可，比如‘我可以去公园’。
cǐ cí zǒu lái bǎo shì kěnéng huò qǐ lì, rú ‘wǒ kěyǐ qù gōnghuān’.
This word is used to express possibility or permission, such as '我可以去公园'.
Context note
这个词常用于日常对话中，比如询问是否可以做某事或表达允许。
cǐ cí cháng yòng zài rì chén huà huà zhōng, rú kě shì wèn xún fǒu kěyǐ zuò mǒu shì huò bǎo dá.
This word is commonly used in daily conversations, such as asking if something can be done or expressing permission.
5 examples
我可以吃蛋糕。
wǒ kě yǐ chī dàn gāo。
I can eat cake.
你可以说英语。
nǐ kě yǐ shuō yīng yǔ。
You can speak English.
我可以去游泳。
wǒ kě yǐ qù yóu yǒng。
I can go swimming.
你可以说普通话。
nǐ kě yǐ shuō pǔ tōng huà。
You can speak Mandarin.
我可以帮助妈妈。
wǒ kě yǐ bāng zhù mā ma。
I can help mom.
5 mini stories
妈妈说可以带我去公园玩。爸爸也同意了。
mā ma shuō kě yǐ dài wǒ qù gōng yuán wán。 bà ba yě tóng yì le。
Mom said I could go to the park to play. Dad agreed.
老师说可以提问。同学们都很积极。
lǎo shī shuō kě yǐ tí wèn。 tóng xué men dōu hěn jī jí。
The teacher said we could ask questions. The students were very active.
妈妈说可以带我去超市。那里有很多好吃的东西。
mā ma shuō kě yǐ dài wǒ qù chāo shì。 nà lǐ yǒu hěn duō hǎo chī de dōng xī。
Mom said I could go to the supermarket. There are many delicious things there.
老师说可以提前交作业。这样我们有更多时间复习。
lǎo shī shuō kě yǐ tí qián jiāo zuò yè。 zhè yàng wǒ men yǒu gèng duō shí jiān fù xí。
The teacher said we could submit our homework early. This way, we have more time to review.
妈妈说可以带我去图书馆。那里有很多好书。
mā ma shuō kě yǐ dài wǒ qù tú shū guǎn。 nà lǐ yǒu hěn duō hǎo shū。
Mom said I could go to the library. There are many good books there.
Mini dialogue
可以喝水吗
A
老师，我可以喝水吗？
Lǎoshī, wǒ kěyǐ hē shuǐ ma?
Teacher, may I drink water?
B
可以，你去吧。
Kěyǐ, nǐ qù ba.
Yes, you may go ahead.
可好吃了
A
这个苹果甜吗？
Zhège píngguǒ tián ma?
Is this apple sweet?
B
可甜了，你尝尝。
Kě tián le, nǐ chángchang.
It's so sweet, have a taste.
Related words and contrasts
similar
可以
kě yǐ
can; may
A very common two-character word meaning 'can' or 'may'.
similar
能
néng
can; able to
Another way to say 'can', focusing on ability.
contrast
会
huì
will; can (learned skill)
Used for learned skills or future actions, different from 可.