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许可 (xǔ kě) — to allow, to permit

Definition

许可 (xǔkě) is a formal verb 'to permit' — stronger and more official than 让, and close in meaning to 允许 but more often used in rules, contracts, and announcements.

verb
to allowto permit

Examples

  • 。
    Gōng sī bù xǔ kě yuán gōng zài gōng zuò shí jiān shǐ yòng shǒu jī.
    The company does not allow employees to use phones during work hours.
  • 许可，。
    Zhǐ yào tiáo jiàn xǔ kě, wǒ men jiù huì kāi shǐ zhè ge xiàng mù.
    As long as conditions permit, we will start this project.
  • 许可。
    Lǎo shī xǔ kě wǒ men tí qián lí kāi jiào shì.
    The teacher allowed us to leave the classroom early.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

许xǔallow
可kěpermit; can

许 and 可 both involve allowing or permitting, so together they express permission.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 許; 许 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánspeech; words
Sound part声符shēngfú
午
午wǔ許xǔ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 許 pairs 言, meaning speech or words, with 午 for its sound; 许 is a simplified form.

Open 许 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
口口kǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
丂
丂kǎo可kě
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

可 pairs 口 (mouth) with 丂 as a sound part; it is tied to air from the mouth, perhaps singing.

Open 可 →
Appears in
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