가능하다 vs 할 수 있다
Korean word comparison
Listen to 가능하다
Listen to 할 수 있다
| 가능하다 | 할 수 있다 |
|---|---|
GA-neung-ha-da adjective | hal su itda adjective |
| possible; feasible; able to be done | to be able to do; can do |
How they differ
할 수 있다 is the most direct and natural everyday way to express ability or feasibility. 가능하다 is more abstract and often sounds more formal, technical, or objective, while 할 수 있다 focuses more on a person's ability or on whether an action can be done.
When to use each
When to use 가능하다: Use 가능하다 when you want to sound more formal, neutral, or objective, especially in reports, instructions, or written analysis.
When to use 할 수 있다: Use 할 수 있다 in everyday speech when talking about someone's ability or whether an action is doable.
Side-by-side examples
- 이 문제는 충분히 가능하다.
(This problem is fully solvable.) - 이 문제는 충분히 할 수 있다.
(This problem can be done.)
Register & nuance: 할 수 있다 is more common in conversation and plain style, while 가능하다 is more common in formal writing and objective descriptions.