可能
かのう · kanou · JLPT N3 · na-adj
possible
可 can/approve + 能 ability = possible; kanou sounds like can know
可 means allowed or can, as in 可愛い, and 能 means ability or talent, as in 能力. Put together they mean something that can be done. A common pattern is 可能性 (kanousei), possibility, and its opposite is 不可能 (fukanou), impossible.
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.'
能 — 厶 (head) + 月 (body/flesh) + 匕匕 (legs)
Originally a pictograph of a bear, showing its head, body, and powerful legs. Because bears were seen as strong and capable, the character was borrowed to mean 'ability' or 'can'. A new character 熊 (with the fire radical 灬) was later created for 'bear'.