可以 from HSK Level 2 Vocabulary List

The Chinese word 可以 (kěyǐ) is a versatile term that can be used in a variety of contexts. It is composed of two characters: 可 (kě), which means "can, may, or possible," and 以 (yǐ), which means "to use, can, or may." Together, these characters form the compound word 可以, which literally means "can use" or "can do."The word 可以 has a long history in the Chinese language, dating back to the ancient oracle bone script. In its earliest usage, 可以 was used to express the idea of permission or possibility. For example, in the oracle bone inscriptions, the phrase 可以出入 (kěyǐ chūrù) was used to mean "can go in and out."Over time, the meaning of 可以 expanded to include the idea of ability or capability. For example, in the Analects of Confucius, the phrase 可以为师矣 (kěyǐ wéi shī yǐ) was used to mean "can be a teacher."In modern Chinese, 可以 is still used in a variety of contexts. It can be used to express permission, possibility, ability, or suggestion. For example, the phrase 可以吗 (kěyǐ ma) can be used to ask for permission, while the phrase 可以考虑一下 (kěyǐ kǎolǜ yīxià) can be used to suggest something.The word 可以 is also used in a number of fixed phrases and idioms. For example, the phrase 可以告慰 (kěyǐ gào wèi) means "can comfort," while the phrase 可以休矣 (kěyǐ xiū yǐ) means "can rest now."In conclusion, the Chinese word 可以 is a versatile term with a long history in the Chinese language. It can be used to express permission, possibility, ability, or suggestion. It is also used in a number of fixed phrases and idioms.