可kě
Character evolution
可
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Simplified · Today
简体
Simplified Chinese
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Shuowen
可 is a pictograph of an open mouth with a bent tongue or figure beneath, depicting someone singing or chanting; the original meaning was “to sing” or “to chant,” later extended to “to approve” or “to allow” because the act of singing implies affirmation. The character is written with a mouth radical (口) over a bent line (the “tongue”), showing the vocal action that gives rise to its meaning. This visual representation of the mouth and tongue explains why the character is formed in this way.
Pinyin
kě· HSK 1