Mnemonic
Standing on the street, a performer opens her mouth to ask: 'Can I sing here?' The crowd nods—permission granted. She belts out a tune so powerful every mouth on the street drops open.
Additional thoughts
Picture the mouth (口) nestled under the street radical (丁)—like someone standing on a street corner, mouth open, seeking approval. The act of asking 'Can I?' ties directly to permission and possibility.Quick recall
A mouth on the street asks 'Can I sing here?'—permission granted.Details
The keyword for 可 is can. This kanji expresses the idea of possibility, approval, or permission—indicating that something is acceptable or able to be done. It carries the sense of granting consent or affirming that a condition is satisfactory. In classical usage, it often appeared in contexts of judgment, signifying that something meets a standard or is deemed permissible.
- On'yomi
- か、こく
- Kun'yomi
- -べ.き、-べ.し