可爱
HSK 3 (exam 2025)HSK 2 (2021)Old HSK 3
可爱 (kě'ài) · cute
可爱 (kě'ài) means “cute; lovely”. It is written with 2 characters: 可 (but) + 爱 (love). It is an HSK 3 word in the current exam syllabus (2025).
How 可爱 is built
The characters
可 kě · but
What 可 is made of
- 丁dīng — male adult
- 口kǒu — mouth
- 冂 — frame
- 丨 — vertical stroke
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 冂 — frame
Origin hint: 丁 gives the meaning, 口 gives the sound. (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
爱 ài · love
What 爱 is made of
- 爫zhǎo — claws
- 冖mì — cover
- 友yǒu — friend
- 又yòu — and
Origin hint: To bring a friend 友 into one's house 冖 (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
Example sentences
这只小狗真可爱。Zhè zhī xiǎo gǒu zhēn kě'ài.This puppy is so cute.
你妹妹很可爱。Nǐ mèimei hěn kě'ài.Your little sister is very cute.
Questions about 可爱
What does 可爱 mean?
可爱 (kě'ài) means “cute; lovely”.
How do you pronounce 可爱?
可爱 is pronounced kě'ài.
Which HSK level is 可爱?
可爱 is in HSK 3 (exam 2025) and HSK 2 (2021) and Old HSK 3.
Related words
- 可能kěnéngmaybe
- 可怕kěpàscary
- 可是kěshìbut
- 可以kěyǐcan
- 可靠kěkàoreliable
- 可乐kělècola
- 认可rènkěto approve
- 可见kějiànit is clear that
- 可怜kěliánpitiful
- 可惜kěxīit's a pity
Learn 可爱 with its group
It is part of HSK 2 (2021) · Group 6: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.