Search…

Search blog post titles and content.

N3

Kanji 可: meanings, readings, and example words.

2 min read

Kanji 可: can, passable, approval

Key takeaways

Kanji 可: can, passable, approval. Readings and core meaning.

See vocabulary and examples below.

Kanji at a glance

N3

Meaning

canpassableapproval

On reading

コク

Kun reading

-べ.き-べ.し

Radical

Core meaning / core image

Core meaning: 可

can, passable, approval

Kanji structure breakdown

Structure breakdown

丁 + 口

Mnemonic story

Mnemonic story

Imagine using your mouth (口) to speak as firmly as driving a nail (丁) into place to give approval. It signifies that something is possible or permitted.

On'yomi and kun'yomi

On reading

  • 可笑しいおかしい

    strange / funny / odd

  • 可成かなり

    considerably / fairly / quite

  • 可愛いかわいい

    cute / lovely / charming

  • 可愛がるかわいがる

    to love affectionately / to be caring

  • 可哀想かわいそう

    pitiable / poor / pathetic

  • 可愛らしいかわいらしい

    lovely / sweet / charming

  • 不可欠ふかけつ

    indispensable / essential

  • 可決かけつ

    approval / adoption / passage

Commonly used words

  • 可笑しい
    おかしい

    strange / funny / odd

  • 可成
    かなり

    considerably / fairly / quite

  • 可愛い
    かわいい

    cute / lovely / charming

  • 可愛がる
    かわいがる

    to love affectionately / to be caring

  • 可哀想
    かわいそう

    pitiable / poor / pathetic

  • 可愛らしい
    かわいらしい

    lovely / sweet / charming

Example sentences

Example 1

その話はちょっとおかしいね。

Translation

That story is a bit strange.

Example 2

彼のおかしい行動にみんな笑った。

Translation

Everyone laughed at his funny behavior.

Example 3

この映画はかなり面白いです。

Translation

This movie is quite interesting.

Example 4

かなり勉強したのに、点数が悪かった。

Translation

I studied considerably, but my score was bad.

Kanji 可: can, passable, approval | Daily Nihongo