The Chinese Radical: 可


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Meaning
be possible    可

Explanation

Used in these characters:
JLPT HSK 1
chair

Left: tree/wood , right: strange (There is a big possibility (opportunity) , but it looks strange.) [possibility = The nail into the opening should be possible.]
With wood you have big possibilities, such as making: a chair.
JLPT HSK 2
be possible, can, to approve, to permit

Nail and opening
The nail into the opening should be possible.
JLPT HSK 2
elder brother

Comprises twice: possibility/can do (The nail into the opening should be possible.)
The one, who can very much (= the double of me), is my elder brother.
JLPT HSK 2
song, to sing

Left: elder brother 哥 (2x possible - [The nail into the opening should be possible.]), right: lack/deficiency (A yawning person is lacking sth.)
There is a double possibility that there is a deficency in your: singing.
JLPT HSK 3
strange, odd, weird
jī, qí
Top: big (A person with widely spread arms appears: big), bottom: possible (The nail into the opening should be possible)
It is a big possibility but it looks strange.
JLPT HSK 3
river

Left: water , right: possible (The nail into the opening should be possible)
(i.e. for water transport) Water that makes things possible, is the river.
JLPT HSK 3
interjection of surprise: Ah!, Oh!
ā, á, ǎ, à, a
Left: mouth , right: (exclamation of approval) 阿 (From the elevated point of a hill there is the possibility [because of better sound transmission] to: shout)
A mouth on a hill can shout out: Ah! Oh!
JLPT HSK 3
exclamation of approval or doubt
ā, ē
Left: hill , right: possibility (The nail into the opening should be possible.)
(From an elevated point the sound is transmitted easily a bigger distance:) A hill gives the possibility of an exclamation (that is heard far away).
JLPT HSK 3
to ride (an animal or bike), to sit astride

Left: horse /馬 (= mane, 4 legs and a tail ㄅ), right: strange, odd (There is a big possibility (opportunity) , but it looks strange.)
A horse gives you big possibilities, when you are riding.
JLPT HSK 4
what, how, why, which

Left: person /, right: possibility, can (The nail into the opening should be possible.)
The person can do what?
JLPT HSK 4
to depend, to live (in a house), to lodge

Top: roof , below: strange, odd = tall/big and possible (The nail into the opening should be possible.)
Under the roof, there are great possibilities, because you depend on each-other.
JLPT HSK 6
expel breath, (phonetic particle for "A"), my goodness
kē, hē
Left: mouth , right: be possible/can (here: open mouth 'J', where sth. ロ comes out)
Out of the mouth, if it open, sth. comes, when expelling breath.
JLPT no HSK
mountainous

Left: mountain , right: strange (There is a big possibility (opportunity) , but it looks strange.)
In the mountains is the big possibility, that it is mountainous.
JLPT no HSK
to carry on shoulder or back, burden, lotus
hé, hè
Top: plant , bottom: "what" 何? (Two persons , carrying a load with that bar
For the transport of the plants the two persons use their shoulders to carry that load.
JLPT no HSK
severe, pitiless, harsh, exacting

Top: grass/plant , bottom: possibility (The nail into the opening should be possible.)
If in the grass, someone (shall find) a nail only with his mouth, you are severe and pitiless to him.
JLPT no HSK
handle of axe, stem

Left: tree , right: possibility (The nail into the opening should be possible)
Wood of a tree has the possibility to be used as a handle (of an axe).
JLPT no HSK
jade-like stone

Left: king, jade , right: be possible, can (The nail into the opening should be possible.)
The 'jade' of the possibilities is the: jade-like.
JLPT no HSK
to scold

Left: word /, right: be possible, can (The nail into the opening should be possible.)
With words it is possible to: scold.
JLPT no HSK
given name of Mencius/Mengzi (follower of Confucius)

Left: vehicle /車 (top view with load-area , axle & wheels ), right: can, possibility (The nail into the opening should be possible.)
Like a vehicle with possibilities is: philosopher Mengzi
JLPT no HSK
uneven (path), unfortunate (in life)

Left: earth , right: be possible, can (The nail into the opening should be possible.)
With the earth it is possible that it is: uneven.

Radicals are shown here that are similar either in appearance or meaning.

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