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How to emphasize with 可 (kě) in Chinese

Subj. + 可 (kě) + Verb / Adj. (+ 了 (le))

可 (kě) — emphatic “really”

HSK 4Adverbs

Rule structure

可 (kě) adds strong emphasis, often in warnings, reminders, or exclamations. It softens with 了 (le) or intensifies with negation.

Examples

这件事你可别忘了！

Zhè jiàn shì nǐ kě bié wàng le!

Don't you forget about this!

这件事可不能忘。

Zhèjiàn shì kě bùnéng wàng.

This matter cannot be forgotten.

你可要小心了！

Nǐ kě yào xiǎoxīn le!

You must be careful!

Practice

Build the sentence

Drag the characters to put them in the correct order

Characters

Words from this rule

了

le

Particle (completed action or change of state)

这

zhè

This

件

jiàn

(classifier for things, clothing, events)

事

shì

Matter

你

nǐ

You

别

bié

Don't (do something); other

忘

wàng

To forget

不

bù

No, not

能

néng

Can, to be able to

要

yào

To want, need, to intend to do something

小心

xiǎoxīn

Careful

点

diǎn

A little, drop; hour, o'clock

Frequently asked questions

How do you say “emphatic ‘really’” in Chinese with 可?

Use the structure: Subj. + 可 (kě) + Verb / Adj. (+ 了 (le)). For example: 这件事你可别忘了！ — “Don't you forget about this!”.

What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?

这件事你可别忘了！ — “Don't you forget about this!”.

Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?

This grammar rule is part of HSK 4.

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More HSK 4 grammar rules

原来 — it turns out, originally

Subj. + 原来 (yuánlái) + Predicate

千万 — don't, whatever you do

千万 (qiānwàn) + (别 (bié) / 不 (bù)) + Verb

正好 — just in time, coincidence

Subj. + 正好 (zhènghǎo) + Verb / Adj.

不得不 — have to, forced to

Subj. + 不得不 (bùdébù) + Verb Phrase

也 都 — also all

Subj. + 也 (yě) + 都 (dōu) + Verb

究竟 — in the end

究竟 (jiūjìng) + Question word / Question

恐怕 — I'm afraid that...

恐怕 (kǒngpà) + Clause

从来 — never in negative contexts

从来 (cónglái) + 都 (dōu)/也 (yě) + 不 (bù)/没 (méi) + Verb / Adj.