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How to Say ‘Can’ in Simplified Chinese

可以

kě yǐ

[kě yǐ]

💬 Usage Tip: [可以] often means [may/can] in the sense of permission or acceptable possibility, not just ability. Compare [我可以进去吗?] (may I go in?) with [我能进去] (I'm able to go in).

Phrase Breakdown

可以

kě yǐ

[kě yǐ]

can

Used to express ability or possibility.

Example

这里可以吃东西。

You can eat here.

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