(kěn) - to be willing to, to be prepared to in Mandarin
kěnTraditional: 肯
Translation
to be willing to, to be prepared to
Word origin
The character shows 止 above 月, a written form of 肉 (ròu, flesh). It first named flesh clinging to the bone, and from that idea of holding firmly to something came the sense of assenting or being willing.
- Origin
- compound character
- Root
- 止 (zhǐ) above 月 or 肉 (ròu, flesh)
Stroke order
肯
Examples
。
He will not tell me the reason.
，。
As long as you are willing to learn, you will certainly get there.
。
She is finally willing to see me.
。
The child refuses to eat.
。
Thank you for being willing to help.
肯 (kěn) is a modal verb of willingness. It sits in front of another verb and says that the subject is prepared to do the thing, not that they are able to.
In practice you will meet it in the negative far more often than the positive. 不肯 is the standard way to say that somebody refuses: 他不肯来, 她不肯说话, 孩子不肯睡觉. It carries a note of stubbornness that a plain 不 does not, which is why parents use it about children all day long.
The trap is the three-way split English hides. 能 is physical ability, 会 is a learned skill, and 肯 is consent. 他不能来 means something is stopping him, 他不会来 means he is not going to, and 他不肯来 means he has been asked and has dug his heels in.
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肯: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the Mandarin word "肯" (to be willing to, to be prepared to): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 53.