Explore 可 through possibility and permission. The examples connect whole words and their readings to everyday contexts.

The idea

可 has 5 strokes; follow their order in the linked KanjiVG diagram. Read 可能（かのう） and 許可（きょか） as complete words: a character’s reading depends on the word.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
可能かのうA change tomorrow is possible.
許可きょかI received the teacher’s permission.
不可ふかParking is not permitted here.

Examples

  • 明日あしたの変更へんこうは可能かのうです。A change tomorrow is possible.
  • 電話でんわでの予約よやくも可能かのうです。Booking by phone is also possible.
  • 先生せんせいに許可きょかをもらいました。I received the teacher’s permission.
  • 写真しゃしんを撮とる許可きょかを求もとめます。I ask for permission to take photographs.
  • ここは駐車ちゅうしゃ不可ふかです。Parking is not permitted here.
  • この部屋へやは使用しよう不可ふかです。This room may not be used.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

可能 means something is possible; 許可 means permission. 不可 often appears on signs to say something is not allowed or available. Compare the shape of 可 with 何.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 可能 in hiragana.

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    かのう

    可能 is read かのう. In context: A change tomorrow is possible.

  2. Write the reading of 許可 in hiragana.

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    きょか

    許可 is read きょか. In context: I received the teacher’s permission.

  3. Complete the missing kanji: ＿能（かのう）［可／何］.

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    可

    可 completes 可能, read かのう. In context: A change tomorrow is possible.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 可 from memory, and read 可能 and 許可 aloud. Then check their readings and make a sentence.