Meaning & readings

can, passable, approval

On’yomi カ、コク
Kun’yomi -べ.き、-べ.し
Nanori よし

Origin

This character most likely combines the idea of a mouth or opening () with components suggesting something fitting or appropriate into that space. The elements on the sides may represent things being aligned or positioned correctly. When something can fit properly into an opening or sits in the right position, it conveys the sense of being passable or acceptable — hence the meanings of approval and capability. The character's structure suggests something that works, fits, or passes muster.

AI-generated (claude-haiku-4-5), not yet reviewed. Formation type (automated guess): Compound ideographic (combined meanings).

5 strokes

Components

  • meaning part enclosure
  • radical kamaec
  • meaning part enclosure

Common words

  • 可決 かけつ approval; adoption (of a motion, bill, etc.)
  • 可能 かのう possible; potential
  • 可否 かひ propriety; right and wrong
  • 可憐 かれん sweet (e.g. young girls, flowers blooming); touchingly lovely
  • 許可 きょか permission; approval
  • 認可 にんか approval; license
  • 不可 ふか wrong; bad
  • 可燃性 かねんせい combustibility; inflammability

Reference

Strokes
5
Kangxi radical
30
Grade
Grade 5 (Kyōiku)
Frequency rank
#314 (newspapers)
Former JLPT
level 2
Unicode
U+053EF