能 vs 可以 vs 会(néng vs kěyǐ vs huì)
Ability, Permission, and Skill
Structure Pattern
Explanation
All three verbs translate to "can" in English, but they are used very differently in Chinese:
1. 会 (huì) - Learned Skill
Use 会 for skills acquired through learning or practice (knowing how to do something).
- e.g., 我会说中文。(I can speak Chinese.)
- Future tense: 会 also means "will" happen. (明天会下雨。)
2. 能 (néng) - Physical Ability & Circumstances
Use 能 to express physical capability or having the circumstantial ability to do something (having the time, health, or resources).
- e.g., 我能喝十瓶啤酒。(I can drink 10 bottles of beer - physical ability.)
- e.g., 我今天很忙，不能去。(I am busy today, I can't go - circumstantial.)
3. 可以 (kěyǐ) - Permission
Use 可以 to ask for or give permission ("may I").
- e.g., 这里可以抽烟吗？(Can I smoke here?)
- Overlap: 可以 is often used interchangeably with 能 for circumstantial ability.
Example Sentences
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Wǒ huì yóuyǒng, dàn wǒ jīntiān bù néng yóu, yīnwèi wǒ hěn lèi.
I can swim (skill), but I cannot swim today (circumstance) because I am tired.
Lǎoshī, wǒ kěyǐ qù xǐshǒujiān ma?
Teacher, can (may) I go to the bathroom?
Nǐ de chē néng zuò jǐ gè rén?
How many people can your car fit?
Common Mistakes
Common Mistake
我能说一点儿中文。
Correct Usage
我会说一点儿中文。
Speaking a language is a learned skill, so you must use 会, not 能 (unless you physically lost your voice and got it back).
Related Grammar Points
Can (Learned Ability) / Will
huì
会 (huì) has two main meanings: 1. **Learned ability (can/know how to):** When followed by a verb, 会 expresses a skill or ability acquired through learning. "I can swim" = "I learned to swim." 2. **Future possibility (will/might):** 会 can indicate something will happen in the future. "It will rain" = 会下雨。 ### Key Differences: * **会** = learned ability (riding a bike, speaking a language) * **能** = physical ability or circumstantial possibility * **可以** = permission or feasibility
Can / May / Able To
néng / kěyǐ
Both 能 (néng) and 可以 (kěyǐ) mean "can," but with subtle differences. 能 emphasizes ability or physical capacity. 可以 emphasizes permission or possibility. For negation, 不能 means "cannot" (ability), and 不可以 means "may not" (permission).
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