The word 可能 is formed through the combination of two independent characters, each contributing its core meaning to create a new, abstract concept. The first character, 可, carries the inherent idea of "can" or "possible", denoting permission or potential. It is joined with 能, which fundamentally means "ability", "capability", or "power". Their fusion is not merely additive but synthesizing; the concept of "possible" (可) is directly channeled through and combined with the concept of "capability" (能) to crystallize into the single notion of "possibility" or "maybe", representing that for which the capability or conditions potentially exist.