Emphatic adverb "ke"

可 (kě) can be used to intensify an adjective, or to add emphasis to a verb. It is stronger than other modifiers, as 可 compares the speaker‘s expectations with the actual situation. The meaning of 可 is very reliant on context.

可 is generally used by Northern speakers and is informal, generally only used in spoken Chinese.

可 Used to Intensify an Adjective

Structure

可 + Adj. + 了

The 了 is almost always there, but it's not 100%.

Examples

In these examples, 可 is used a bit like 很, as it is used to intensify an adjective:

• 这 只 小 狗 可 淘气 了！The speaker never expected puppies to be this naughtyZhè zhǐ xiǎo gǒu kě táoqì le!This puppy is so naughty!
• 我 姐姐 可 好 了！有 什么 好吃 的 都 给 我 留着。Wǒ jiějie kě hǎo le! Yǒu shénme hǎochī de dōu gěi wǒ liúzhe.My sister is great! Any good food there is she saves some for me.
• 他 可 优秀 了！你 不 想 见见 吗？Tā kě yōuxiù le! Nǐ bù xiǎng jiàn jiàn ma?He is really excellent! Don't you want to meet him?
• 这 个 游戏 可 好玩 了！推荐 给 你。Zhè gè yóuxì kě hǎowán le! Tuījiàn gěi nǐ.This game is really fun! I recommend it to you.
• 哇 ，这 个 糖醋 里脊 可 好吃 了！The speaker never dreamt that sweet and sour pork could taste this goodWa, zhège tángcù lǐjí kě hǎochī le!Wow! This sweet and sour pork is delicious!

可 Used to Emphasize a Verb

Structure

可 + Verb Phrase

了 is not needed in this pattern, but may be present.

Examples

In these examples 可 is used with 别, and sounds a bit like "don't even think about..." in English.

• 你 可 别 喝 太 多 酒。 I'm not expecting you to drink a lotNǐ kě bié hē tài duō jiǔ.Don't drink too much.
• 你 可 别 走！ I'm blocking your way, almost pleading with you, as I believe you are going to leaveNǐ kě bié zǒu!Don't go!
• 话 可 不 能 这样 说。 What you said doesn't accord with my own beliefsHuà kě bù néng zhèyàng shuō.You really can't say that.

可 as "Finally"

Sometimes 可 acts like 终于 (zhōngyú), meaning "finally."

Structure

可 + Verb Phrase + 了

了 will pretty much always be needed when you're talking about something "finally" happening.

Examples

• 你 可 来 了! The speaker never expected it would take so long for you to get hereNǐ kě lái le!You are here!
• 可 做 完 了 所有 的 工作。Kě zuò wán le suǒyǒu de gōngzuò.Finish all the work.

Sources and further reading

Books

• HSK Standard Course 4下 (pp. 76) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (pp. 270-1) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2 (pp. 56) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy ]

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