可 shows a mouth 口 with breath curling out — early readings connect it to a song or sigh of assent. Approval exhaled: 'it may be done'.
可 is permission and possibility: 可以 (can/may — the traveler's most-used word after 谢谢), 可能 (possible/maybe), 可爱 ('love-able' — cute!), 可乐 ('can-be-happy' — the genius transliteration of Cola). The 可+X pattern manufactures adjectives: 可怕 (fear-able: scary), 可惜 (regret-able: a pity). Coca-Cola's Chinese name 可口可乐 ('tasty and joyful') is routinely cited as history's best brand translation — built on this humble character.
The mouth 口 breathing out a yes — CAN, MAY.
可口可乐 'tasty & joyful' (Coca-Cola) beat an early transliteration that read as 'bite the wax tadpole'. Branding matters.