能, 會/会,可以 (néng, huì, kěyǐ)

Posted on by tiffany

能 · 會 · 可以 — 近義詞辨析
Similar words

能 néng ·会 huì ·可以 kěyǐ

Three Chinese verbs for one English word — “can.” Here is how to pick the right one every time.

In English, “can” covers ability, skills, and permission. In Mandarin, these are split across three distinct verbs: 能 néng for physical ability, 会 huì for learned skills, and 可以 kěyǐ for permission.

一

能 néng

Modal Verb · Physical / Circumstantial Ability

能 néng expresses whether your body or outer circumstances allow something — not whether you have learned the skill.

Subject + 能néng + Verb Phrase
他tā发烧fāshāo了le，不bù能néng上学shàngxué。
He has a fever, so he can’t go to school.
我wǒ一次yícì能néng跑pǎo五wǔ公里gōnglǐ。
I can run 5km at a time.
我wǒ能néng一次yícì喝下hē xià 10 罐guàn啤酒píjiǔ。
I can drink ten cans of beer in one sitting.
他tā过敏guòmǐn，不bù能néng吃chī海鲜hǎixiān。
He’s allergic, so he can’t eat seafood.
💡 Note on Alcohol Tolerance in Taiwan

Taiwanese people are sometimes described as some of the “worst drinkers” in the world — but it’s not for lack of trying. About half the population carries a genetic trait that makes it harder for the body to break down alcohol properly.

That means a flushed face, a racing heart, headaches, and nausea can show up faster and more intensely than they would for many other people. So if you’re trying to bond with Taiwanese friends, you might want a plan B that isn’t drinking.

二

会 huì

Modal Verb · Learned or Trained Skill

Use 会 huì huì for skills acquired through training or study — languages, instruments, driving, cooking, and sports.

Subject + 会huì + Verb Phrase (skill)
她tā会huì弹tán钢琴gāngqín。
She knows how to play the piano.
我wǒ不bú会huì游泳yóuyǒng。
I don’t know how to swim.
你nǐ会huì用yòng筷子kuàizi吗ma？
Do you know how to use chopsticks?
我wǒ哥哥gēge会huì开车kāichē。
My older brother knows how to drive.
你nǐ会huì做饭zuòfàn吗ma？
Do you know how to cook?
三

可以 kěyǐ

Modal Verb · Permission

可以 kěyǐ is all about rules, options, and whether you have permission — perfect for making polite requests.

Subject + 可以kěyǐ + Verb Phrase (permission)
这里zhèlǐ可以kěyǐ停车tíngchē吗ma？
Is parking allowed here?
上课shàngkè时shí不bù可以kěyǐ用yòng手机shǒujī。
Phones aren’t allowed during class.
我wǒ可以kěyǐ坐zuò这里zhèlǐ吗ma？
May I sit here?
这里zhèlǐ可以kěyǐ拍照pāizhào吗ma？
Is it OK to take photos here?
你nǐ可以kěyǐ帮bāng我wǒ一下yíxià吗ma？
Could you help me for a moment?
04  ·  Gray Zones

Where They Overlap

There are two genuine gray zones where these words overlap, but watch out for subtle differences in the negative!

能 néng vs 可以 kěyǐ

When asking if something is possible, both work seamlessly:

你nǐ明天míngtiān能néng／可以kěyǐ来lái吗ma？
Can you come tomorrow?
你nǐ可以kěyǐ／能néng把bǎ窗户chuānghù打开dǎkāi吗ma？
Could you open the window?
📌 Important Negative Difference

In negative sentences, 不能 bù néng means “simply not possible” (e.g. too tired), while 不可以 bù kěyǐ implies that someone has forbidden you from doing it!

能 néng vs 会 huì

When paired with an adverb of degree like 很 hěn, 非常 fēicháng, or 超 chāo to mean “really good at something,” both 能 and 会 can be used:

他tā很hěn能néng／会huì喝酒hējiǔ。
He can really hold his liquor.
我wǒ特别tèbié能néng／会huì吃辣chīlà。
I can handle really spicy food.
05  ·  Watch Out

Common Pitfalls

能 néng — skills need 会, not 能
✕我wǒ不bù能néng说shuō法文fǎwén
✓我wǒ不bú会huì说shuō法文fǎwén

Speaking a language is a learned skill, so you must use 会 huì instead of 能 néng.

06  ·  At a Glance

Quick Comparison

SentenceMeaning & Tone
我wǒ今天jīntiān很hěn累lèi，不bù能néng去qù。 ✅ Simply not possible (I’m tired)
我wǒ今天jīntiān很hěn累lèi，不bù可以kěyǐ去qù。 ❌ Sounds like I was forbidden to go
妈妈māma说shuō今天jīntiān不bù可以kěyǐ去qù。 ✅ Forbidden by my mom
07  ·  Practice

Practice Quiz

PRACTICE QUIZ Question 1 of 10
I’m sick, so I can’t go to work today.
我wǒ生病shēngbìng了le，今天jīntiān不bù____上班shàngbān。
My little sister is very young — she can’t talk yet.
妹妹mèimei很hěn小xiǎo，还hái不bú____说话shuōhuà。
You can’t talk during class.
上课shàngkè的de时候shíhou不bù____说话shuōhuà。
My hand hurts, so I can’t write.
我wǒ的de手shǒu很hěn痛tòng，不bù____写字xiězì。
This is the teacher’s book — I can’t take it home.
这zhè是shì老师lǎoshī的de书shū，我wǒ不bù____拿ná回家huíjiā。
I can drink three cups of water in one go.
我wǒ一次yícì____喝hē三sān杯bēi水shuǐ。
She can speak Chinese and English.
她tā____说shuō中文zhōngwén和hé英文yīngwén。
The doctor said I can exercise again — I can run again.
医生yīshēng说shuō我wǒ可以kěyǐ运动yùndòng了le，我wǒ又yòu____跑步pǎobù了le。
I’m too busy today — I can’t come to your place.
我wǒ今天jīntiān很hěn忙máng，____去qù你nǐ家jiā。
He’s really into tea — ten cups a day.
他tā很hěn____喝茶hēchá，一天yìtiān喝hē十shí杯bēi。
Complete
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