可以 (kě yǐ) — can, may (expressing permission or ability); not bad, pretty good (adjective)

Definition

可以 has two distinct uses: as a modal it means 'can, may' (permission or ability), slightly more formal than 能; as an adjective it means 'not bad, pretty good', similar to 不错.

can, may (expressing permission or ability)not bad, pretty good (adjective)

Examples

  • 可以
    Wǒ kě yǐ hē shuǐ ma?
    May I drink some water?
  • 可以
    Wǒ kě yǐ chī hěn duō.
    I can eat a lot.
  • 可以
    Zhè ge cài hái kě yǐ.
    This dish is not bad.

Grammar

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