1to agree to, to consent, to permit; ready, willing
2to be ready (to do sth)
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March 24, 2026
肯(肎)kěn(ken3)
The character 肯 (kěn) primarily means to agree, consent, or permit. It conveys a willingness or readiness to do something, often in contexts where approval or acceptance is required. This character can be used in both formal and informal settings, particularly when discussing agreements or approvals.
Strokes8Radical⺼Frequency#1307DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, agreement and consent are often emphasized in social interactions, reflecting a value placed on harmony and cooperation. The use of 肯 in conversations illustrates the importance of consensus in decision-making processes.
Memory tip
Imagine a person with a kind heart (the radical 肉, meaning 'meat' or 'flesh') who is always ready to say 'yes' to help others. The sound 'kěn' can be remembered by thinking of someone nodding their head in agreement, showing their willingness.
Meanings of 肯
kěn(ken3)
1to agree to, to consent, to permit; ready, willing
2to be ready (to do sth)
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About 肯
肯Simplified
肎Traditional
8Strokes
⺼Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#1307Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 肯
Podcast: 肯
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AI study notes for 肯
Quick Contrast
同意 (tóngyì) — use 肯 (kěn) when emphasizing a willingness or readiness, while 同意 (tóngyì) focuses more on the act of agreeing itself.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 肯 with the similar sounding characters, particularly with 可以 (kěyǐ), which means 'can' or 'may.' It's important to remember that 肯 implies a willingness or consent rather than just permission. This character is generally used in both spoken and written Mandarin.
HSK Study Tips
Although 肯 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary list, it is useful to understand this character in the context of expressing agreement. Students at HSK level 3 or higher should focus on using this character in sentences that convey consent or willingness, enhancing their conversational skills.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes use 肯 incorrectly by pairing it with negative forms, such as 肯不 (kěn bù), which sounds awkward. Instead, use 肯 in affirmative sentences to convey consent, like 肯定 (kěndìng) for 'definitely' or 'certainly.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 肯
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How to say to agree to, to consent, to permit; ready, willing in Chinese
“to agree to, to consent, to permit; ready, willing” in Chinese is肯kěn
The character 肯 (kěn) primarily means to agree, consent, or permit. It conveys a willingness or readiness to do something, often in contexts where approval or acceptance is required. This character can be used in both formal and informal settings, particularly when discussing agreements or approvals.
When to use 肯
Learners often confuse 肯 with the similar sounding characters, particularly with 可以 (kěyǐ), which means 'can' or 'may.' It's important to remember that 肯 implies a willingness or consent rather than just permission. This character is generally used in both spoken and written Mandarin.
肯 or something close to it
同意 (tóngyì) — use 肯 (kěn) when emphasizing a willingness or readiness, while 同意 (tóngyì) focuses more on the act of agreeing itself.
What learners get wrong
Learners sometimes use 肯 incorrectly by pairing it with negative forms, such as 肯不 (kěn bù), which sounds awkward. Instead, use 肯 in affirmative sentences to convey consent, like 肯定 (kěndìng) for 'definitely' or 'certainly.'
Write 肯
肯
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Grammar patterns of 肯
肯 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Paleographers have conducted in-depth studies on the old variant of '肯', revealing its historical evolution.
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Cultural Notes for 肯
💡Did you know?
The character 肯 not only signifies willingness or consent but also reflects a positive attitude towards cooperation in Chinese culture, which places high value on harmony and mutual assistance.
Word Family of 肯
Compounds5
啃kěnto gnaw
掯kèn
楈xū
褃kèn
錹kěn
Words containing this character16
肯定kěndìngto be certain
肯kěnto agree
肯德基kěndéjīKFC
肯尼迪kěnnídíKennedy (name)
林肯línkěnLincoln (name)
肯尼亚kěnníyàKenya肯尼亞
中肯zhòngkěnpertinent
肯塔基kěntǎjīKentucky, US state
首肯shǒukěnto give a nod of approval
肯特kěntèKent (English county)
宁肯nìngkěnwould rather...寧肯
阿肯色州ākěnsèzhōuArkansas, US state
肯塔基州kěntǎjīzhōuKentucky, US state
肯尼迪航天中心kěnnídíhángtiānzhōngxīnKennedy space center, Cape Canaveral 卡納維拉爾角|卡纳维拉尔角[Kǎnàwéilā'ěrjiǎo], Florida
麦肯锡màikěnxīMacKenzie麥肯錫
阿肯色ākěnsèArkansas, US state
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 肯
What does 啃 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 肯
肯 (kěn) emphasizes willingness and readiness to do something, while 同意 (tóngyì) means to agree or consent in a more straightforward way. 肯 carries a nuance of being ready to take action, whereas 同意 is more about expressing agreement without necessarily implying action.
肯 is pronounced as kěn in Mandarin. The tone is the third tone, which starts mid, dips down, and then rises. Practicing with native speakers or using pronunciation tools can help you master its pronunciation.
肯 (kěn) means to consent or to be willing to do something. It expresses agreement or readiness to permit an action. This character can also refer to an older variant of itself, emphasizing its historical usage.
You can use 肯 in a sentence to express willingness or agreement, such as in '我肯去' (Wǒ kěn qù) meaning 'I am willing to go.' It can also be used to ask for consent, like '你肯帮我吗?' (Nǐ kěn bāng wǒ ma?) meaning 'Are you willing to help me?'
You can use 肯 in a sentence like '我肯去' (Wǒ kěn qù), which means 'I am willing to go.'
肯 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, making it versatile for various conversations.
While both mean 'to agree,' 肯 emphasizes willingness or readiness, whereas 同意 simply means 'to agree' without the nuance of consent.
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