<p>This is one of the trickiest comparisons, as 会 (huì), 能 (néng), and 可以 (kěyǐ) are often translated as "can." Sometimes they are explained as: 会 means "know how to," 能 means "to be able to," and 可以 means "to have permission to." Actually, they overlap somewhat.</p> <h2 id="basic-meanings">Basic Meanings</h2> <p>The words 会 (huì), 能 (néng), and 可以 (kěyǐ) actually overlap a little in meaning. The first step is to understand their basic meanings, though:</p> <ol> <li>会 (huì) can mean "know how to" and can express an action that you had to learn or be trained in to do.</li> <li>能 (néng) means "to be able to" and expresses having a certain ability or having obtained a certain minimum requirement.</li> <li>可以 (kěyǐ) means "may" or "to be allowed to" and expresses having another person's permission.</li> </ol> <p>As for overlap, this graphic helps explain nicely:</p> <figure> <img src="Hui-neng-keyi-venn-diagram.png" title="Hui-neng-keyi-venn-diagram.png" alt="Hui-neng-keyi-venn-diagram.png" /><figcaption>Hui-neng-keyi-venn-diagram.png</figcaption> </figure> <p>The regions marked by letters are explained in the sections below:</p> <ul> <li>A: ability in the sense of “know how to” (会 (huì) is more common than 能 (néng))</li> <li>B: permission/request (use 能 (néng) or 可以 (kěyǐ))</li> <li>C: possibility (use 能 (néng) or 可以 (kěyǐ))</li> <li>D: permission not granted (use 不可以 (bù kěyǐ))</li> <li>E: impossibility (use 不能 (bù néng))</li> </ul> <h2 id="expressing-ability">Expressing Ability</h2> <p>Both 会 and 能 can be used to express ability in something.</p> <h3 id="structure">Structure</h3> <div class="jiegou"> <p>会／能 + Verb</p> </div> <h3 id="examples">Examples</h3> <div class="liju"> <ul> <li>我们 都 <em>会</em> 游泳 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen dōu <em>huì</em> yóuyǒng.</span><span class="trans">We all can swim.</span></li> <li>他 不 <em>会</em> 修 电脑 。<span class="pinyin">Tā bù <em>huì</em> xiū diànnǎo.</span><span class="trans">He doesn't know how to fix computers.</span></li> <li>你 真的 <em>能</em> 吃 三 碗 米饭 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zhēnde <em>néng</em> chī sān wǎn mǐfàn ma?</span><span class="trans">Are you really able to eat three bowls of rice?</span></li> </ul> </div> <p>Example dialogue:</p> <div class="liju"> <ul> <li>A: 你 <em>会</em> 说 中文 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">A: Nǐ <em>huì</em> shuō Zhōngwén ma?</span><span class="trans">Can you speak Chinese?</span></li> <li>B: 不 好意思 ，我 只 <em>能</em> 说 一点 。<span class="pinyin">B: Bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ zhǐ <em>néng</em> shuō yīdiǎn.</span><span class="trans">Sorry, I can only speak a little.</span></li> </ul> </div> <h2 id="expressing-permission">Expressing Permission</h2> <p>可以 is used to ask for or give permission. However, 能 can also be used to replace 可以 interchangeably.</p> <p><strong>Note:</strong> When a question is asked using 能/可以 it can be answered with 不能/不可以, meaning no, and only 可以 meaning yes. Chinese don't really answer with just 能。</p> <h3 id="structure-1">Structure</h3> <div class="jiegou"> <p>可以 / 能 + Verb</p> </div> <h3 id="examples-1">Examples</h3> <div class="liju"> <ul> <li>我 <em>可以 </em> 走 了 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>kěyǐ</em> zǒu le ma?</span><span class="trans">Am I allowed to leave now?</span></li> <li>你 <em>能 不 能</em> 帮 我 一下 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>néng bu néng</em> bāng wǒ yīxià ma?</span><span class="trans">Could you help me a bit?</span></li> <li>动物 不 <em>能</em> 进 。<span class="pinyin">Dòngwù bù <em>néng</em> jìn.</span><span class="trans">Animals are not allowed to come in.</span></li> </ul> </div> <p>Example dialogue:</p> <div class="liju"> <ul> <li>A: 我 <em>能</em> 在 这里 抽烟 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">A: Wǒ <em>néng</em> zài zhèlǐ chōuyān ma?</span><span class="trans">Can I smoke here?</span></li> <li>B: 不 <em>可以</em> 。<span class="pinyin">B: Bù <em>kěyǐ</em>.</span><span class="trans">No, you can't.</span></li> </ul> </div> <h2 id="expressing-possibility">Expressing Possibility</h2> <p>能 and 可以 can also be used to express possibility.</p> <h3 id="structure-2">Structure</h3> <div class="jiegou"> <p>可以 / 能 + Verb</p> </div> <h3 id="example">Example</h3> <div class="liju"> <ul> <li>明天 你 <em>能</em> 早点 来 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Míngtiān nǐ <em>néng</em> zǎodiǎn lái ma?</span><span class="trans">Is it possible for you to come al little earlier tomorrow?</span></li> <li><em>可 不 可以</em> 换 一 个 ？<span class="pinyin"><em>Kě bù kěyǐ</em> huàn yī gè?</span><span class="trans">Is it possible to change it?</span></li> <li><em>能</em> 不 参加 吗 ？<span class="pinyin"><em>Néng</em>bù cānjiā ma?</span><span class="trans">Is it possible to not attend?</span></li> </ul> </div> <p>Example dialogue:</p> <div class="liju"> <ul> <li>A: <em>能 不 能</em> 取消 今天 的 课 ？<span class="pinyin">A: <em>Néng bù néng</em> qǔxiāo jīntiān de kè?</span><span class="trans">Is it possible to cancel today's lesson?</span></li> <li>B: 不 <em>能</em> 。<span class="pinyin">B: Bù <em>néng</em>.</span><span class="trans">Impossible.</span></li> </ul> </div> <h2 id="talking-about-the-future">Talking about the Future</h2> <p>Only 会 can be used to mean something is going to happen. It expresses that something in the future will happen and is often used to express trends or possibilities.</p> <h3 id="structure-3">Structure</h3> <div class="jiegou"> <p>会 + Verb / Adj.</p> </div> <h3 id="examples-2">Examples</h3> <div class="liju"> <ul> <li>他 不 <em>会</em> 跟 你 结婚 。<span class="pinyin">Tā bù <em>huì</em> gēn nǐ jiéhūn.</span><span class="trans">He's not going to marry you.</span></li> <li>你 <em>会</em> 生 我 的 气 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>huì</em> shēng wǒ de qì ma?</span><span class="trans">Will you be mad at me?</span></li> <li>这样 穿 <em>会</em> 好看 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Zhèyàng chuān <em>huì</em> hǎokàn ma?</span><span class="trans">Will I look good if I dress like this?</span></li> </ul> </div> <p>Example dialogue:</p> <div class="liju"> <ul> <li>A: 今天 <em>会</em> 下雨 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Jīntiān <em>huì</em> xiàyǔ ma?</span><span class="trans">Is it going to rain today?</span></li> <li>B: 我看 不 <em>会</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ kàn bù <em>huì</em>.</span><span class="trans">I don't think it will.</span></li> </ul> </div> <h2 id="using-adverbs-to-add-emphasis">Using Adverbs to Add Emphasis</h2> <p>By placing 很 (hěn) before 会, it adds emphasis to the level of ability and skill on the action presented. 很会 is commonly used to mean 'to be good at" and expresses being very skillful at something, or doing something very well. It can be translated as "really can," as in "you <em>really</em> can speak Chinese!," in other words, "you are good at speaking Chinese."</p> <p>When 很 is placed in front of 能, the meaning takes on a amazed/surprised tone on the action. Although more rarely used, it emphasis quantity and amount. 很能 is most commonly used with 吃(chī) to eat, and 睡 (shuì) to sleep. It's like the English equivalent of saying you "can really" do something. For example saying that someone "<em>can really</em> sleep" means that they can sleep a lot.</p> <p><strong>Note:</strong> 很可以 is not a phrase and therefore can not be used with 会 to add emphasis. Other adverbs like 真 (zhēn), 太 (tài), 这么 (zhème) etc. can also be used.</p> <h3 id="structure-4">Structure</h3> <div class="jiegou"> <p>很 + 会／能 + Verb</p> </div> <h3 id="examples-3">Examples</h3> <div class="liju"> <ul> <li>这个 女生 <strong>很</strong> <em>会</em> 打扮 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège nǚshēng <strong>hěn</strong> <em>huì</em> dǎban.</span><span class="trans">This girl knows how to dress up really well.</span></li> <li>我 妈妈 <strong>很</strong> <em>会</em> 做饭 。<span class="expl">My mom cooks very well.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ māma <strong>hěn</strong> <em>huì</em> zuòfàn.</span><span class="trans">My mother really knows how to cook.</span></li> <li>他 <strong>很</strong> <em>会</em> 说话 。<span class="expl">The subject has good speaking skills.</span><span class="pinyin">Tā <strong>hěn</strong> <em>huì</em> shuōhuà.</span><span class="trans">He's a smooth talker.</span></li> <li>他 <strong>很</strong><em>能</em> 说 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <strong>hěn</strong> <em>néng</em> shuō.</span><span class="trans">He's quite a talker.</span></li> </ul> </div> <p>Note that 很可以说 is wrong and it doesn't mean anything.</p> <p>Examples used with other adverbs:</p> <div class="liju"> <ul> <li>他 <strong>太</strong> <em>能</em> 睡 了 。<span class="expl">The subject can sleep a lot, for many hours.</span><span class="pinyin">Tā <strong>tài</strong> <em>néng</em> shuì le.</span><span class="trans">He can really sleep.</span></li> <li>没想到 你 <strong>这么</strong><em>能</em> 吃苦 。<span class="pinyin">Méixiǎngdào nǐ <strong> zhème</strong> <em> néng</em> chīkǔ.</span><span class="trans">I didn't expect you to be a person who can handle so many burdens.</span></li> <li>你 <strong>真</strong><em>能</em> 吃 !<span class="expl">The subject can eat a lot.</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ <strong>zhēn</strong> <em>néng</em> chī!</span><span class="trans">Wow, you really can eat!</span></li> <li>中国 人 <strong>真</strong><em>会</em> 吃 !<span class="expl">The subject has great knowledge about food and its culture, a true connoisseur.</span><span class="pinyin">Zhōngguó rén <strong>zhēn</strong> <em>huì</em> chī!</span><span class="trans">Chinese people really can eat.</span></li> </ul> <p>Note that 很可以吃 is wrong and it doesn't mean anything.</p> </div> <h2 id="similar-expression-with-different-meanings">Similar expression with different meanings</h2> <div class="liju"> <ul> <li>我 的 脚 好 了 ，现在 又 <em>能</em> 跳舞 了 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ de jiǎo hǎo le, xiànzài yòu <em>néng</em> tiàowǔ le.</span><span class="trans">I am able to dance now since my foot is better. (The condition changed)</span></li> <li>我 学 了 两 个 月 ，现在 我 <em>会</em> 跳舞 了 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ xué le liǎng gè yuè, xiànzài wǒ <em>huì</em> tiàowǔ le.</span><span class="trans">I studied for two months. I know how to dance now. (It's a learned skill)</span></li> <li>我 爸妈 同意 了 ，现在 我 <em>可以</em> 跳舞 了 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ fùmǔ tóngyì le, xiànzài wǒ <em>kěyǐ</em> tiàowǔ le.</span><span class="trans">My parents agreed. I'm allowed to dance now. (The dad gave permission)</span></li> </ul> </div> <p>Note that none of the three can be followed by the aspectual particle 过.</p> <p>For a good visualization on how these three overlap, check out the [<a href="http://www.sinosplice.com/life/archives/2009/10/13/chinese-modal-verb-venn-diagram" class="uri">http://www.sinosplice.com/life/archives/2009/10/13/chinese-modal-verb-venn-diagram</a>| Chinese Modal Verb Venn Diagram].</p> <h2 id="see-also">See Also</h2> <ul> <li><a href="Auxiliary_verb_"hui"_for_"will"" title="wikilink">Auxiliary verb "hui" for "will"</a></li> <li><a href="Expressing_a_learned_skill" title="wikilink">Expressing a learned skill</a></li> <li><a href="Expressing_ability_or_possibility" title="wikilink">Expressing ability or possibility</a></li> <li><a href="Expressing_permission" title="wikilink">Expressing permission</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="sources-and-further-reading">Sources and further reading</h2> <h3 id="books">Books</h3> <ul> <li><a href="对外汉语教学语法释疑201例" class="uri" title="wikilink">对外汉语教学语法释疑201例</a> (p.55,p.65) <a href="http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%85%AB%E7%99%BE%E8%AF%8D/dp/B001198GSW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693275&sr=8-1">→buy</a></li> <li><a href="Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_1_(3rd_ed)" title="wikilink">Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)</a> (pp. 219-20) <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385">→buy</a></li> </ul> <h3 id="dictionaries">Dictionaries</h3> <ul> <li><a href="现代汉语词典（第5版）" class="uri" title="wikilink">现代汉语词典（第5版）</a> (能p.989， 可以p.773，会p.610) <a href="http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%8D%E5%85%B8/dp/B001B1RZCI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693609&sr=8-1">→buy</a></li> </ul> <h3 id="websites">Websites</h3> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.sinosplice.com/life/archives/2009/10/13/chinese-modal-verb-venn-diagram">Sinosplice: Chinese Modal Verb Venn Diagram</a></li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><a href="Category:grammar_comparison" title="wikilink">Category:grammar comparison</a></p>