可
can · passable · approval
Details
Stroke Order
Component Breakdown
丁 + mouth
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of mouth and phonetic. Permission from mouth.
Symbolism
Possible, permission, appropriate. Represents being allowed.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Believing in possibility
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
不可抗力
ふかこうりょく
act of God; irresistible force; inevitability; act of God
不可思議
ふかしぎ
mystery; something inexplicable; wonder; mystery
純情可憐
じゅんじょうかれん
pure of heart and pretty; pure of heart and pretty
可惜身命
あたらしんみょう
valuing one's body and life; holding one's life dear; valuing one's body and life
奇貨可居
きかおくべし
you must seize every golden opportunity; strike while the iron is hot; when you find a rare good buy, seize upon it for a future sale at a much higher price; you must seize every golden opportunity
紅顔可憐
こうがんかれん
youthful and endearing; rosy-cheeked and sweet; youthful and endearing
後生可畏
こうせいかい
the young should be regarded with respect; the young should be regarded with respect
純真可憐
じゅんしんかれん
pure of heart and beautiful; innocent and beautiful; pure of heart and beautiful
Proverbs & Idioms
可もなく不可もなく
かもなくふかもなく
Neither good nor bad
Average, unremarkable
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 可 mean in Japanese?
可 means can, passable, approval.
How do you read 可?
On'yomi: カ、コク (KA, KOKU). Kun'yomi: -べ.き、-べ.し (beki, beshi).
How many strokes does 可 have?
可 has 5 strokes. Its radical is 口 (mouth).
Is 可 a good kanji for a tattoo?
Yes. 可 (can, passable, approval) has a clear positive meaning and no embarrassing alternate readings, making it a solid tattoo choice.
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