可笑
kě xiào · HSK 7
ridiculous
😆 可笑 = 可 (-able) + 笑 (laugh) = laughable, i.e. funny or ridiculous
可 marks something as possible or worthy of an action, and 笑 means to laugh. Together they label a thing as laugh-worthy: funny, or laughable in the mocking sense of ridiculous.
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.'
笑 — bamboo radical 竹 (⺮) + 夭 (yāo, bending)
Originally written with the bamboo radical over 夭, depicting a person bending or swaying. One traditional reading is that bamboo bends in the wind like a person doubling over with laughter. The character has meant 'laugh, smile' since early times, with no major shift in meaning.