Capability – 能 néng

Posted on by tiffany

Grammar Point

能 néng

當代中文 Contemporary Chinese

能 covers three related ideas: a natural, built-in ability; what a thing is capable of doing; and whether something is possible. In every case, it’s different from 会 — which is specifically about a skill you learned.

一 能 néng — To Be Able To Do

能 highlights a natural ability — something you can physically do, with no training or learning involved. It can also describe how that ability changes over time.

我wǒ能néng说话shuōhuà
I can talk.
我wǒ能néng一次yícì喝下hēxià10罐shíguàn啤酒píjiǔ
I can drink 10 cans of beer at one time.
Taiwanese people are sometimes called the “worst drinkers” in the world — not for lack of trying, but because around half carry a genetic trait that makes it harder for the body to break down alcohol. That means flushing, a racing heart, headaches, and hangovers show up more easily than for most people. If you’re hoping to bond with a Taiwanese friend, an activity other than drinking might work better.
他tā不能bùnéng吃chī辣là
He can’t eat spicy food.

❌ 我wǒ不能bùnéng说shuō中文Zhōngwén

✅ 我wǒ不会búhuì说shuō中文Zhōngwén

The reason you can’t speak Chinese is that you haven’t learned it — not a physical limitation. That calls for 会, not 能.

二 能 néng — Capability

When 能 attaches to an object rather than a person, it describes what that thing is capable of — its capacity or function.

我的wǒde手机shǒujī能néng防水fángshuǐ
My phone is waterproof.
这zhè件jiàn衣服yīfu不能bùnéng水洗shuǐxǐ
This piece of clothing cannot be water-washed.
这个zhège盒子hézi能néng加热jiārè吗ma？
Can this box be heated?
那nà杯子bēizi能néng装zhuāng500mlwǔbǎi的de水shuǐ
That cup can hold 500ml of water.
工作gōngzuò能néng给gěi我wǒ成就感chéngjiùgǎn
My job can give me a sense of accomplishment.

❌ 我的wǒde手机shǒujī会huì防水fángshuǐ

✅ 我的wǒde手机shǒujī能néng防水fángshuǐ

会 is for a skill someone learned — an object’s built-in function needs 能 instead.

三 能 néng — Possibility

能 can also ask whether something is possible — often used to make a polite request.

你nǐ今天jīntiān能néng来lái我家wǒjiā吗ma?
Can you come to my place today?
你nǐ能néng把bǎ盐yán递给dìgěi我wǒ吗ma？
Can you pass the salt to me?
你nǐ能néng说shuō慢màn一点yìdiǎn吗ma？
Can you say it a little slower?
你nǐ能néng闭嘴bìzuǐ吗ma？
Could you shut up?
我wǒ今天jīntiān很忙hěnmáng，不能bùnéng去qù你家nǐjiā
I am quite busy today, so I can’t go to your place.

四 Practice

Choose 能 or 会.

Question 1 of 10

我wǒ妹妹mèimei____吃chī很hěn辣là的de东西dōngxi。 (“My younger sister can eat very spicy food” — physical tolerance.)

A physical tolerance for spice is a natural ability — 能.

我wǒ不bù____弹tán钢琴gāngqín。 (“I can’t play piano” — never learned.)

Playing an instrument is a learned skill — 会, not 能.

这zhè台tái冷气lěngqì____除湿chúshī。 (“This air conditioner can dehumidify.”)

A built-in appliance function is a capability — 能.

这个zhège包包bāobāo____装zhuāng很多hěnduō东西dōngxi。 (“This bag can hold a lot of things.”)

A bag’s capacity is a capability — 能.

你nǐ____帮bāng我wǒ开门kāimén吗ma？ (“Can you help me open the door?”)

A simple favor request like this is asking about possibility — 能.

你nǐ明天míngtiān____上班shàngbān吗ma？ (“Can you work tomorrow?”)

Asking about a schedule is asking about possibility — 能.

Tiffany____听懂tīngdǒng五wǔ种zhǒng语言yǔyán。 (“Tiffany can understand five languages.”)

This is describing a possibility — whether she’s capable of following along in five languages — so it’s 能.

奶奶nǎinai的de脚jiǎo受伤shòushāng了le，她tā不bù____走路zǒulù。 (“Grandma hurt her foot, she can’t walk.”)

A physical limitation from an injury is 能, not a learned skill.

这zhè只zhī笔bǐ____写xiě在zài玻璃bōli上shàng。 (“This pen can write on glass.”)

What a pen is capable of writing on is a capability — 能.

你nǐ今天jīntiān晚上wǎnshang____不bù____陪péi我wǒ去qù看kàn电影diànyǐng (“Can you go to the movies with me tonight?”)

A V-not-V invitation like this (“能不能…”) is still asking about possibility — 能.