Difference between revisions of "Emphatic adverb "ke""

 
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可 (kě) can be used like 很 to intensify an adjective, or like like 真 to add emphasis to a verb. It is stronger than other modifiers, as 可 compares the speakers expectations with the actual situation. The meaning of 可 is very reliant on context.  
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{{Grammar Box}}
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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.  
  
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可 is generally used by Northern speakers and is informal, generally only used in spoken Chinese.
  
===可 used to intensify an adjective===
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==可 Used to Intensify an Adjective==
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===Structure===
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<div class="jiegou">
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可 + Adj. + 了
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</div>
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The 了 is almost always there, but it's not 100%.
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===Examples===
  
 
In these examples, 可 is used a bit like 很, as it is used to intensify an adjective:
 
In these examples, 可 is used a bit like 很, as it is used to intensify an adjective:
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 这 只 小 狗 <em>可</em> 淘气 了!<span class="expl">(The speaker never expected dogs to be this naughty)</span>
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* 这 只 小 狗 <em>可</em> 淘气 了!<span class="expl">The speaker never expected puppies to be this naughty</span><span class="pinyin">Zhè zhǐ xiǎo gǒu <em>kě</em> táoqì le!</span><span class="trans">This puppy is so naughty!</span>
* 哇,这 个 糖醋 里脊 <em>可</em> 好吃 了!<span class="expl">(The speaker never dreamt that sweet and sour pork could taste this good)</span>
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* 我 姐姐 <em>可</em> 好 了!有 什么 好吃 的 都 给 我 留着。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ jiějie <em>kě</em> hǎo le! Yǒu shénme hǎochī de dōu gěi wǒ liúzhe.</span><span class="trans">My sister is great! Any good food there is she saves some for me.</span>
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* 他 <em>可</em> 优秀 了!你 不 想 见见 吗?<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>kě</em> yōuxiù le! Nǐ bù xiǎng jiànjian ma?</span><span class="trans">He is really excellent! Don't you want to meet him?</span>
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* 这 个 游戏 <em>可</em> 好玩 了!推荐 给 你。<span class="pinyin">Zhège yóuxì <em>kě</em> hǎowán le! Tuījiàn gěi nǐ.</span><span class="trans">This game is really fun! I recommend it to you.</span>
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* 哇 ,这 个 糖醋 里脊 <em>可</em> 好吃 了!<span class="expl">The speaker never dreamt that sweet and sour pork could taste this good</span><span class="pinyin">Wa, zhège tángcù lǐjí <em>kě</em> hǎochī le!</span><span class="trans">Wow! This sweet and sour pork is delicious!</span>  
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
===可 used to emphasize a verb===
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==可 Used to Emphasize a Verb==
  
In these examples 可 is used a bit like 真, and used to emphasize a verb:
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===Structure===
 +
 
 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
 
 +
可 + Verb Phrase
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 +
</div>
 +
 
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了 is not needed in this pattern, but may be present.
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===Examples===
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In these examples 可 is used with 别, and sounds a bit like "don't even think about..." in English.
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 你 <em>可</em> 来 了! <span class="expl">(The speaker never expected it would take so long for you to get here)
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* 你 <em>可</em> 别 喝 太 多 酒。 <span class="expl">I know you usually drink a lot, but NOT THIS TIME</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em></em> bié hē tài duō jiǔ.</span><span class="trans">Don't drink too much.</span>
* 你 <em></em> 别 喝 太 多 酒。<span class="expl"> (I'm expecting you to drink a lot)
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* 你 <em>可</em> 别 走! <span class="expl">I'm blocking your way, almost pleading with you, as I believe you are going to leave</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>kě</em> bié zǒu!</span><span class="trans">Don't go!</span>
* 你 <em>可</em> 别 走!<span class="expl">(I'm blocking your way, almost pleading with you, as I believe you are going to leave)
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* 话 <em>可</em> 不 能 这样 说。 <span class="expl">What you said doesn't accord with my own beliefs</span><span class="pinyin">Huà <em>kě</em> bù néng zhèyàng shuō.</span><span class="trans">You really can't say that.</span>
* 话 <em>可</em> 不 能 这 样 说<span class="expl">(What you said doesn't accord with my own beliefs)</span>
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</div>
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==可 as "Finally"==
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Sometimes 可 acts like 终于 (zhōngyú), meaning "finally."
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===Structure===
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 +
<div class="jiegou">
  
 +
可 + Verb Phrase + 了
  
In the last two sentences 可 is used with 别, and sounds a bit like "don't even think about..." in English
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</div>
  
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了 will pretty much always be needed when you're talking about something "finally" happening.
  
可 is generally used by Northern speakers, and is informal, generally only used in spoken Chinese.
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===Examples===
  
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<div class="liju">
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* 你 <em>可</em> 来 了! <span class="expl">The speaker never expected it would take so long for you to get here</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>kě</em> lái le!</span><span class="trans">You're finally here!</span>
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* <em>可</em> 做 完 了 所有 的 工作。<span class="pinyin"><em>Kě</em> zuò wán le suǒyǒu de gōngzuò.</span><span class="trans">I've finally finished all the work.</span>
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</div>
  
 
== Sources and further reading ==
 
== Sources and further reading ==
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=== Books ===
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 4下|76}}
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1|270-1}}
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2|56}}]
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[[Category: B2 grammar points]]
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{{HSK|HSK4}}
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[[Category: Adverbs]]
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{{Basic Grammar|可|B2|可 + Adj. (+ 了)|这 件 事情 对 他 造成 的 影响 <em>可</em> 大 了 。|grammar point|ASGSPAKW}}
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{{POS|Adverbs}}
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{{Translation|very}}
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{{Used for| Expressing quality}}
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{{Used for|Emphasizing}}

Latest revision as of 09:45, 14 January 2021

Chinese-grammar-wiki-ke.jpg

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

  • 别 喝 太 多 酒。 I know you usually drink a lot, but NOT THIS TIME bié hē tài duō jiǔ.Don't drink too much.
  • 别 走! I'm blocking your way, almost pleading with you, as I believe you are going to leave bié zǒu!Don't go!
  • 不 能 这样 说。 What you said doesn't accord with my own beliefsHuà 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

  • 来 了! The speaker never expected it would take so long for you to get here lái le!You're finally here!
  • 做 完 了 所有 的 工作。 zuò wán le suǒyǒu de gōngzuò.I've finally finished all the work.

Sources and further reading

Books