可以
kěyǐ · HSK 2
can
✅ 可以 = 可 (permissible) + 以 (use/by means of) → can, may
可 alone means permitted or able; 以 adds a sense of means or use. Together 可以 expresses permission or possibility — 'it is permissible to use', i.e. can or may. Common reply: 可以! meaning sure, okay.
可 — mouth 口 + breath marker 丁 (modified)
可 originally depicted a mouth (口) with a curved stroke suggesting exhaled breath or speech, conveying approval or assent. From this came the meaning 'to permit' or 'can,' as granting permission was expressed verbally. Today it broadly means 'may,' 'can,' or 'approve.'
以 — phonetic 㠯 (plow/tool) + 人 (person)
Originally a pictograph of a hand-held plow or tool (㠯), later combined with 人 (person) to suggest 'using' something. The core meaning 'to use' extended metaphorically to 'by means of', 'with', and 'because of'. In modern Chinese it functions mainly as a grammatical particle.