( 不可以 ) ⇒ 不可一概而论。 Bùkě yīgài ér lùn. → You can't generalize. ⇒ 植物生长,水和阳光两者缺一不可。 Zhíwù shēngzhǎng, shuǐ hé yángguāng liǎngzhě quē yī bùkě. → For plants to grow they must have both sun and water. ⇒ 我们不可忽视年轻人的心理健康。 Wǒmen bùkě hūshì niánqīngrén de xīnlǐ jiànkāng. → We shouldn't overlook the mental health of young people. ⇒ 我们对这些疾病不可不防。 Wǒmen duì zhèxiē jíbìng bùkě bù fáng. → We mustn't fail to take steps against such diseases.
两可
be ambiguous
可乐
Coke ®
可以
( 能够 ) can ⇒ 别人能做到的,你也可以。 Biérén néng zuòdào de, nǐ yě kěyǐ. → If other people can do it, so can you.
可口
tasty
可喜
heartening
可巧
as luck would have it
可怕
frightening
可怜
pitiful ⇒ 那位病人看上去很可怜。 Nà wèi bìngrén kànshàngqù hěn kělián. → That patient looks pitiful. ⇒ 我存的那点钱少得可怜。 Wǒ cún de nà diǎn qián shǎo de kělián. → I've only managed to save a pitiful amount.
可恨
detestable
可恶
detestable
可悲
lamentable
可惜
regrettable ⇒ 错过了那个工作机会,真可惜! Cuòguò le nàge gōngzuò jīhuì, zhēn kěxī! → What a shame you missed out on that job opportunity!
可是
⇒ 他儿子可是真聪明。 Tā érzi kěshì zhēn cōngmíng. → His son is really clever. ⇒ 我可是不和他一起去。 Wǒ kěshì bù hé tā yīqǐ qù. → I'll definitely not be going with him.
可气
annoying
可爱
adorable
可疑
suspicious
可笑
( 令人耻笑 ) ridiculous
可耻
disgraceful
可能
possible ⇒ 我们实现目标是可能的。 Wǒmen shíxiàn mùbiāo shì kěnéng de. → It's possible we'll realize our targets.
可行
workable
可见
so ⇒ 玛丽苗条了,可见她减肥成功。 Mǎlì miáotiao le, kějiàn tā jiǎnféi chénggōng. → Mary has slimmed down, so her diet has obviously been successful.
可观
( 值得看 ) worth seeing ⇒ 展览馆的艺术品着实可观。 Zhǎnlǎnguǎn de yìshùpǐn zhuóshí kěguān. → The gallery's art collection is really worth seeing.
可贵
valuable
可鄙
despicable
可靠
reliable
宁可
⇒ 我宁可回家。 Wǒ nìngkě huíjiā. → I'd rather go home.
认可
( 许可 ) endorse ⇒ 他的方案已得到上级认可。 Tā de fāng'àn yǐ dédào shàngjí rènkě. → His project was endorsed by his superiors.
许可
allow ⇒ 如果条件许可,我就报名参赛。 Rúguǒ tiáojiàn xǔkě, wǒ jiù bàomíng cānsài. → If circumstances allow, I'll sign up for the competition.
可塑性
( 指物 ) plasticity
可见度
visibility
可歌可泣
be deeply moving
不可一世
be insufferably arrogant
不可思议
unbelievable
不可救药
be beyond help
俗不可耐
as common as muck
势不可挡
unstoppable ⇒ 信息全球化势不可挡。 Xìnxī quánqiúhuà shì bù kě dǎng. → The globalization of information is unstoppable.
可视电话
videophone
唾手可得
within easy reach ⇒ 真是唾手可得的好机会。 Zhēnshi tuò shǒu kě dé de hǎo jīhuì. → It really is a golden opportunity.
垂手可得
do ... with one's eyes shut
屈指可数
can be counted on the fingers ⇒ 这样的好作家屈指可数。 Zhèyàng de hǎo zuòjiā qūzhǐ kě shǔ. → Good authors like this are few and far between.
忍无可忍
⇒ 对于他们的卑劣行为,大家已忍无可忍。 Duìyú tāmen de bēiliè xíngwéi, dàjiā yǐ rěn wú kě rěn. → Everyone is at the end of their tether with their appalling behaviour.
急不可待
extremely anxious
情有可原
forgivable ⇒ 他这样做情有可原。 Tā zhèyàng zuò qíng yǒu kě yuán. → What he did is forgivable.
指日可待
be just round the corner
无可厚非
give no cause for criticism ⇒ 她虽有点儿私心,但也无可厚非。 Tā suī yǒudiǎnr sīxīn, dàn yě wú kě hòu fēi. → Although she was a little selfish, that was no cause for criticism.
无可奈何
have no alternative ⇒ 我一再坚持,妈妈终于无可奈何地同意让我出国读书。 Wǒ yīzài jiānchí, māma zhōngyú wú kě nài hé de tóngyì ràng wǒ chūguó dúshū. → I persevered and persevered, and in the end my mother had no alternative but to agree to let me study abroad.
无可置疑
be beyond doubt ⇒ 他们夺冠的实力无可置疑。 Tāmen duó guàn de shílì wú kě zhì yí. → Their ability to win the championship was beyond doubt.
无懈可击
unassailable ⇒ 他的回答无懈可击。 Tā de huídá wú xiè kě jī. → His reply was unassailable.
English translation of '可'
可
(kě)
动
(= 同意) approve
⇒ 认可 (rènkě) approve
(= 适合) suit
⇒ 可心 (kěxīn) satisfying
助动
(= 可以) can
⇒ 对我来说,房子可大可小。 (Duì wǒ láishuō, fángzi kě dà kě xiǎo.) As far as I'm concerned, the house can be big or small.
⇒ 公共场所不可吸烟。 (Gōnggòng chǎngsuǒ bù kě xīyān.) No smoking in public places.
(= 值得)
⇒ 没什么可担心的。 (Méi shénme kě dānxīn de.) There's no need to worry.