不可

bùkě

adverb #2,135

Meanings

HSK 5

这件事不可掉以轻心。

Zhè jiàn shì bùkě diàoyǐqīngxīn.

This matter must not be taken lightly.

HSK 5

不可以在这里吸烟。

Bùkě yǐ zài zhèlǐ xīyān.

Smoking is not allowed here.

HSK 7-9

机不可失，时不再来。

Jībùkěshī, shí búzài lái.

Opportunity must not be missed; it won't come again.

grammar

不可 is more literary and formal than 不能 or 不可以. It often appears in set phrases and written Chinese, like 不可思议 (unbelievable) or 不可能 (impossible).

不 bù

可 kě