Kilo Lingo

(kě néng) - possibly, maybe; possible in Mandarin

néng

Traditional: 可能

Line drawing of 可能
Coloured illustration of 可能
HSK 2
#86 of 5,000 Core 1000

Translation

possibly, maybe; possible

Word origin

可能 means possibly or possible, literally 'able to be able'. 可 (kě) means can or able. 能 (néng) means to be able, originally a pictograph of a bear, later borrowed for the sense of capability.

Origin
compound
Root
可 (kě, can) + 能 (néng, to be able)

Stroke order

Stroke order for 可

Stroke order for 能

Examples

He might not come today.

This matter might be more complicated than you think.

It is possible that I was wrong.

xuě

It might snow tomorrow.

There is no way he could arrive this early.

Used in

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This word is part of lesson 2.