可以...
Reach for this when you want to say something is permitted or possible — 'can,' 'may,' 'is allowed to.' It covers two close meanings at once: permission ('you can come in') and possibility ('this room can fit ten people'). Among the first verbs learners pick up, 可以 sits before the main verb and is the everyday way to say 'it's okay to do X' or 'this is doable.'
Structure
[SUBJECT] 可以 [VERB PHRASE]
kěyǐ...
How to Think About It
可以 fuses two ideas English splits: 'you may' (permission) and 'you can' (possibility). The choice between them comes from context, not from 可以 itself. To answer a 可以...吗 question affirmatively, you say 可以 alone — a complete one-word yes. To say no, use 不可以 (forbidden, stronger) or 不能 (can't). 可以 is always pre-verb; it doesn't take an object directly.
Examples
你可以坐这里。
Nǐ kěyǐ zuò zhèlǐ.
You can sit here.
这个手机可以拍视频。
Zhège shǒujī kěyǐ pāi shìpín.
This phone can record videos.
我可以问你一个问题吗？
Wǒ kěyǐ wèn nǐ yí ge wèntí ma?
Can I ask you a question?
我可以喝一杯水吗?
Wǒ kěyǐ hē yì bēi shuǐ ma?
Can I have a glass of water?
周末我们可以去公园。
Zhōumò wǒmen kěyǐ qù gōngyuán.
On the weekend we can go to the park.
Common Mistake
Learners drop the verb after 可以 and just say 可以 + object, on the model of English 'I can it.' But 可以 always needs a verb after it (or stands alone as a complete answer). Also, learners mix up 可以不 with 不可以 — the position of 不 changes everything.
我可以一杯咖啡。
我可以喝一杯咖啡吗？
Don't Confuse With
能
能 = 'be able to' — emphasizes capability or physical possibility. 可以 = 'may / can' — emphasizes permission or general possibility. 我能游一千米 (I'm able to swim 1km); 我可以游泳吗 (am I allowed to swim?).
会
会 = 'know how to' — learned ability. 可以 = 'is allowed / is doable.' 他会开车 (he knows how to drive); 他可以开车 (he's allowed to drive).
不可以 vs 不能
不可以 = 'is forbidden' (strong, often by rule). 不能 = 'can't / isn't able to' (capability or circumstance). 这里不可以吸烟 (no smoking allowed here); 我不能去 (I can't go — I'm not able).
会 + Verb
会 is for learned skills — swimming, driving, speaking a language. If the 'can' you mean is 'I know how to,' use 会, not 可以.
能 + Verb
能 leans on physical capability or specific circumstances ('I can lift this,' 'I can come tomorrow'). 可以 leans on permission and general possibility. In requests, both work; in 'I'm strong enough,' only 能 fits.
Practice
你 ___ 不上班。
Show answer
可以
你 ___ 去旅行。
Show answer
可以
Arrange: 可以 / 我 / 进来 / 吗
Show answer
我可以进来吗？
You can come anytime.
Show answer
你什么时候都可以来。
Use 可以 to ask permission to do something.
Show answer
我可以借你的笔吗？
我 ___ 帮你拿包。 (fill in 'can')
Show answer
Hear It in Real Episodes
This pattern appears in 2 Fluentide episodes:
Related Grammar Patterns
Acquire by listening
Hear 可以... in real Chinese, not in a textbook.
Fluentide picks the next news episode at your level, so this pattern shows up again and again in real context. The transcript marks it, the audio drills it. Free to start, no card.