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How to say 'Possible' in Japanese | 可能

Wondering how to say 'Possible' in Japanese? You're in the right place!

The Japanese word for Possible is 'Kanou', written as 可能 in Japanese.'Possible' in hiragana is かのう.

    word

    可能

    Meaning

    Possible

    Reading

    かのう

    kanou

    Kanji

    可Possible 能Ability

    Explanation

    The Japanese adjectival noun '可能 (かのう)' means 'possible'. It is used to describe something that can be done or achieved, or something that has the potential to happen. This word is often used in formal or technical contexts. For example: it is possible to finish this project by tomorrow「このプロジェクトは明日までに終わらせることは可能です」(このプロジェクトはあしたまでにおわらせることはかのうです). Is it possible to change the schedule?「スケジュールを変更することは可能ですか？」(スケジュールをへんこうすることはかのうですか？). Note that '可能' is often used in combination with verbs to express the possibility of doing something, as in '可能にする (かのうにする)' (to make possible).

    Part Of Speech

    adjectival noun

    Kanji JLPT

    Unknown

    Kanji Grade

    5

    Frequency

    213

    Composition

    kanji

    Handwriting

Kanji in the Word 可能

This word contains 2 kanji characters:

  • kanji

    可

    Meaning

    Possible

  • kanji

    能

    Meaning

    Ability

Words Related to 可能 Through the Kanji 可

These 13 Words contain the Kanji 可 as well.

  • word

    可成

    Meaning

    Quite

  • word

    可愛い

    Meaning

    Cute

  • word

    可笑しい

    Meaning

    Strange, Funny

  • word

    成る可く

    Meaning

    As much as possible

  • word

    可哀想

    Meaning

    Pitiful

  • word

    不可欠

    Meaning

    Essential

  • word

    可愛らしい

    Meaning

    Adorable

  • word

    可愛がる

    Meaning

    Dote

  • word

    許可

    Meaning

    Permission

  • word

    不可能

    Meaning

    Impossible

  • word

    可

    Meaning

    Possible

  • word

    認可

    Meaning

    Approval

  • word

    可笑しな

    Meaning

    Strange

Words Related to 可能 Through the Kanji 能

These 13 Words contain the Kanji 能 as well.

  • word

    能力

    Meaning

    Ability

  • word

    機能

    Meaning

    Function

  • word

    芸能

    Meaning

    Entertainment

  • word

    才能

    Meaning

    Talent

  • word

    性能

    Meaning

    Performance

  • word

    能

    Meaning

    Ability

  • word

    本能

    Meaning

    Instinct

  • word

    有能

    Meaning

    Capable

  • word

    知能

    Meaning

    Intelligence

  • word

    無能

    Meaning

    Incompetent

  • word

    不可能

    Meaning

    Impossible

  • word

    能率

    Meaning

    Efficiency

  • word

    放射能

    Meaning

    Radiation

Learn the Word 可能

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What does 'Kanou' (可能) mean?

'Kanou' means 'Possible' .

To help you master this word, here's an interactive lesson where you'll practice its readings and meanings.