能 (néng) is one of several Chinese words that is normally translated as
"can" in English. However, 能 (néng) is used to emphasize one's ability
or the possibility of something happening.

Expressing Ability
------------------

能 (néng) indicates ability when used with activities that are not
consciously learned or studied.

### Structure

The structure to use 能 (néng) to express "ability" is:

<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 能 + Verb + Obj.

</div>
### Examples

<div class="liju">
-   我 <em>能</em> 吃 四 十 个 饺子。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ
    <em>néng</em> chī sìshí gè jiǎozi.</span><span class="trans">I can
    eat 40 dumplings.</span>
-   他 <em>能</em> 工作 24 个 小时。<span class="pinyin">Tā
    <em>néng</em> gōngzuò èrshí-sì gè
    xiǎoshí.</span><span class="trans">He can work 24 hours.</span>
-   你 <em>能</em> 帮 我 找到 他 吗？ <span class="pinyin">Nǐ
    <em>néng</em> bāng wǒ zhǎodào tā ma?</span><span class="trans">Can
    you help me find him?</span>
-   你 的 手机 <em>能</em> 上网 吗？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ de shǒujī
    <em>néng</em> shàngwǎng ma?</span><span class="trans">Can your cell
    phone go on the internet?</span>
-   一 岁 的 宝宝 <em>能</em> 说话 吗？<span class="pinyin">Yī suì de
    bǎobao <em>néng</em> shuōhuà ma?</span><span class="trans">Can a one
    year old baby talk?</span>

</div>
Expressing Possibility
----------------------

When used with activities that are consciously learned or studied, 能
(néng) generally means that circumstances do not allow execution of the
action. In other words, it's *not possible.*

### Structure

The structure to use 能 (néng) to express possibility is exactly the
same:

<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 能 + Verb + Obj.

</div>
### Examples

<div class="liju">
-   开车 一 个 小时 <em>能</em> 到 家 吗？<span class="pinyin">Kāichē yī
    gè xiǎoshí <em>néng</em> dào jiā ma?</span><span class="trans">Is it
    possible to drive home in one hour?</span>
-   他们 明天 <em>能</em> 早 点 来 吗？<span class="pinyin"> Tāmen
    míngtiān <em>néng</em> zǎo diǎn lái
    ma?</span><span class="trans">Would it be possible for them to come
    a little earlier tomorrow?</span>
-   你们 <em>能</em> 小声 一点 吗？<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen
    <em>néng</em> xiǎo shēng yīdiǎn ma?</span><span class="trans">Could
    you all lower your voices a bit?</span>
-   你 <em>能</em> 告诉 我 她的 手机 号码 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ
    <em>néng</em> gàosu wǒ tā de shǒujī hàomǎ
    ma?</span><span class="trans">Could you tell me her cell phone
    number?</span>
-   一 千 块 <em>能</em> 买 一 个 手机 吗？<span class="pinyin">Yīqiān
    kuài <em>néng</em> mǎi yī gè shǒujī ma?</span><span class="trans">Is
    it possible to buy a cell phone with one thousand RMB?</span>

</div>
Other Usages
------------

From these examples we can see such circumstances might be pertaining to
getting someone's consent or reliant on the speaker's health. If the
speaker wishes to express that they are able to execute an action
requiring a consciously studied skill, 会 (huì) can be used instead.

Because 能 (néng) can express possibility, it is often used to form
polite questions, something like "would it be possible" in English:

### Examples

<div class="liju">
-   我 <em>能</em> 问 你 一 个 问题 吗？<span class="pinyin">Wǒ
    <em>néng</em> wèn nǐ yī gè wèntí ma?</span><span class="trans">Could
    I ask you a question?</span>
-   我 <em>能</em> 坐 在 这里 吗？<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>néng</em>
    zuò zài zhèlǐ ma?</span><span class="trans">Could I sit here?</span>
-   这里 不 <em>能</em> 游泳。<span class="expl pdf-long-expl">It's not
    allowed, or not possible for other
    reasons.</span><span class="pinyin">Zhèlǐ bù <em>néng</em>
    yóuyǒng.</span><span class="trans">You can't swim here.</span>
-   上课 的 时候 不 <em>能</em> 说
    英文。<span class="expl pdf-long-expl">My teacher has forbidden me
    from speaking English.</span><span class="pinyin">Shàngkè de shíhou
    bù <em>néng</em> shuō Yīngwén.</span><span class="trans">In class,
    you can't speak English.</span>
-   工作 的 时候 不 <em>能</em> 玩 手机。<span class="pinyin">Gōngzuò de
    shíhou bù <em>néng</em> wán shǒujī.</span><span class="trans">When
    working, you can't play with your cell phone.</span>

</div>
See also
--------

-   [Expressing permission with
    "keyi"](Expressing_permission_with_"keyi" "wikilink")
-   [Expressing a learned skill with
    "hui"](Expressing_a_learned_skill_with_"hui" "wikilink")
-   [Comparing "hui" "neng"
    "keyi"](Comparing_"hui"_"neng"_"keyi" "wikilink")

Sources and further reading
---------------------------

### Websites

-   Sinosplice: [Chinese Modal Verb Venn
    Diagram](http://www.sinosplice.com/life/archives/2009/10/13/chinese-modal-verb-venn-diagram)

### Books

-   [Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1
    (3rd ed)](Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_1_(3rd_ed) "wikilink") (pp.
    219-20)　[→buy](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)
-   [New Practical Chinese Reader
    1 (新实用汉语课本1)](New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_1_(新实用汉语课本1) "wikilink") (pp.
    160-1)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561910401/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561910401)
-   [New Practical Chinese Reader 1
    (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed)](New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_1_(新实用汉语课本1)(2nd_ed) "wikilink") (pp.
    185-7)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561926235/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7561926235)

[Category:A1 grammar points](Category:A1_grammar_points "wikilink")