Mandarin · 28 September 2026 · Tone Sandhi Patterns
可以
kě yǐPinyin
can / may / acceptable
auxiliary verb
An auxiliary verb indicating permission, capability, or acceptability. It follows the third tone sandhi rule, meaning that although both characters are written with third-tone marks, '可' is pronounced with a second tone (kě -> ké) in fluent stream of speech.
In a sentence
部将曰： 「此去正北彝陵城，可以屯兵。」
bù jiāng yuē cǐ qù zhèng běi yí líng chéng kě yǐ tún bīng
A subordinate general replied, "Directly north from here lies the city of Yiling, where troops can be stationed."
