可恶
kěwù · HSK 7
hateful
可 (worthy of, -able) + 恶 (evil, loathing) = worthy of loathing → hateful
可 marks something as deserving or fit for a reaction; 恶 carries the sense of evil or disgust. Together they label a thing as deserving disgust, i.e. detestable. Said with a sharp tone, 可恶! works like spitting out damn it or how loathsome.
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.'
恶 — 亚 (yà) phonetic + 心 (heart) below
A semantic-phonetic compound: the heart radical 心 carries the meaning, while 亚 supplies the sound. Originally written 惡, it depicted a 'heart' beneath 亞, suggesting feelings of dislike or hatred. Over time it extended from 'to hate' (wù) to 'evil, bad' (è).