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, 會会 huì for learned skills, and 可以 kěyǐ for permission.
1能 néng— Natural or Physical Ability
能 néng expresses whether your body or outer circumstances allow something — not whether you have learned the skill.
他他發燒发烧了了，不不能能上學上学。
He has a fever, so he can’t go to school.
我我一次一次能能跑跑五五公里公里。
I can run 5km at a time.
我我能能一次一次喝下喝下 10 罐罐啤酒啤酒。
I can drink ten cans of beer in one sitting.
他他過敏过敏，不不能能吃吃海鮮海鲜。
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.
⚠️ Common mistake — Skills need 會会, not 能
Not being able to speak a language is about never having learned it — a skill issue, not a physical one. That calls for 會会 huì, not 能 néng.
❌我我不不能能說说法文法文
✅我我不不會会說说法文法文
Speaking a language is a learned skill, so you must use 會会 huì instead of 能 néng.
2會会 huì— Learned or Trained Skill
Use 會会 huì for skills acquired through training or study — languages, instruments, driving, cooking, and sports.
她她會会彈弹鋼琴钢琴。
She knows how to play the piano.
我我不不會会游泳游泳。
I don’t know how to swim.
你你會会用用筷子筷子嗎吗？
Do you know how to use chopsticks?
我我哥哥哥哥會会開車开车。
My older brother knows how to drive.
你你會会做飯做饭嗎吗？
Do you know how to cook?
3可以 kěyǐ— Permission & What’s Allowed
可以 kěyǐ is all about rules, options, and whether you have permission — perfect for making polite requests.
這裡这里可以可以停車停车嗎吗？
Is parking allowed here?
上課上课時时不不可以可以用用手機手机。
Phones aren’t allowed during class.
我我可以可以坐坐這裡这里嗎吗？
May I sit here?
這裡这里可以可以拍照拍照嗎吗？
Is it OK to take photos here?
你你可以可以幫帮我我一下一下嗎吗？
Could you help me for a moment?
4Where 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:
你你明天明天能能／可以可以來来嗎吗？
Can you come tomorrow?
你你可以可以／能能把把窗戶窗户打開打开嗎吗？
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!
Sentence
Meaning & Tone
我今天很累，不能去。我今天很累，不能去。
✅ Simply not possible (I’m tired)
我今天很累，不可以去。我今天很累，不可以去。
❌ Sounds like I was forbidden to go
媽媽說今天不可以去。妈妈说今天不可以去。
✅ Forbidden by my mom
能 néng vs 會会 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 會会 can be used:
他他很很能能／會会喝酒喝酒。
He can really hold his liquor.
我我特別特别能能／會会吃辣吃辣。
I can handle really spicy food.
5Quick Reference
6Practice Quiz
Test your understanding with these interactive practice cards. Select the correct answer for each sentence!
PRACTICE QUIZQuestion 1 of 10
I’m sick, so I can’t go to work today.
我生病了，今天不____上班。我生病了，今天不____上班。
My little sister is very young — she can’t talk yet.
妹妹很小，還不____說話。妹妹很小，还不____说话。
You can’t talk during class.
上課的時候不____說話。上课的时候不____说话。
My hand hurts, so I can’t write.
我的手很痛，不____寫字。我的手很痛，不____写字。
This is the teacher’s book — I can’t take it home.
這是老師的書，我不____拿回家。这是老师的书，我不____拿回家。
I can drink three cups of water in one go.
我一次____喝三杯水。我一次____喝三杯水。
She can speak Chinese and English.
她____說中文和英文。她____说中文和英文。
The doctor said I can exercise again — I can run again.
醫生說我可以運動了，我又____跑步了。医生说我可以运动了，我又____跑步了。
I’m too busy today — I can’t come to your place.
我今天很忙，____去你家。我今天很忙，____去你家。
He’s really into tea — ten cups a day.
他很____喝茶，一天喝十杯。他很____喝茶，一天喝十杯。
Enjoyed this post? Buy me a coffee so I can keep writing more of these ☕
