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[](http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1286538933)
[](# "wikilink")
Comparing "hui" "neng" "keyi"
=============================
[](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/ASGZL717)
-
Level
[B1](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/B1_grammar_points)
-
Similar to
- [The use of Taiwanese Mandarin
"hui"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/The_use_of_Taiwanese_Mandarin_%22hui%22) (B2)
-
Used for
[Describing
actions](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Describing_actions),
[Expressing
ability](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_ability),
[Expressing
possibility](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_possibility),
[Expressing permission with
"keyi"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_permission_with_%22keyi%22),
[Requesting](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Requesting)
-
Keywords
[会](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E4%BC%9A),
[能](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E8%83%BD),
[可以](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E5%8F%AF%E4%BB%A5)
-
Translations
[can](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Can),
[able](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Able)
[{width="300"
height="300"}](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/File:Chinese-grammar-wiki-hui.jpg)
Contents
--------
[hide]([# "wikilink")\]
- [1 Basic
Meanings](#Basic_Meanings "wikilink")
- [2 Expressing
Ability](#Expressing_Ability "wikilink")
- [2.1
Structure](#Structure "wikilink")
- [2.2
Examples](#Examples "wikilink")
- [3 Expressing
Permission](#Expressing_Permission "wikilink")
- [3.1
Structure](#Structure_2 "wikilink")
- [3.2
Examples](#Examples_2 "wikilink")
- [4 Expressing
Possibility](#Expressing_Possibility "wikilink")
- [4.1
Structure](#Structure_3 "wikilink")
- [4.2
Example](#Example "wikilink")
- [5 Talking
about the Future](#Talking_about_the_Future "wikilink")
- [5.1
Structure](#Structure_4 "wikilink")
- [5.2
Examples](#Examples_3 "wikilink")
- [6 Using
Adverbs to Add
Emphasis](#Using_Adverbs_to_Add_Emphasis "wikilink")
- [6.1
Structure](#Structure_5 "wikilink")
- [6.2
Examples](#Examples_4 "wikilink")
- [7 Similar
Expression with Different
Meanings](#Similar_Expression_with_Different_Meanings "wikilink")
- [8 See
also](#See_also "wikilink")
- [9 Sources and
further reading](#Sources_and_further_reading "wikilink")
- [9.1
Books](#Books "wikilink")
- [9.2
Dictionaries](#Dictionaries "wikilink")
- [9.3
Websites](#Websites "wikilink")
会／能 + Verb
### Examples
- 我们 都 *会* 游泳 。Wǒmen dōu *huì*
yóuyǒng.We all know how to swim.
- 他 不 *会* 修 电脑 。Tā bù *huì* xiū
diànnǎo.He doesn't know how to fix
computers.
- A: 你 *会* 说 中文 吗
？Nǐ *huì* shuō Zhōngwén
ma?Can you speak Chinese?
- B: 不 好意思 ，我 只 *会* 说 一点
。Bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ zhǐ *huì* shuō
yīdiǎn.Sorry, I can only speak a
little.
- A:你 *能* 吃 三 碗 米饭 吗
？Nǐ *néng* chī sān wǎn mǐfàn
ma?Are you able to eat three bowls of
rice?
- B: 不 *能* 。Bù
*néng*.I can't.
Expressing Permission
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
可以 is used to ask for or give permission. However, 能 can also be used
to replace 可以 interchangeably.
**Note:** When a question is asked using 能 or 可以 it can be answered
with 不能 or 不可以, meaning no, and only 可以 meaning yes. Chinese
don't really answer with just 能.
### Structure
可以 / 能 + Verb
### Examples
- A:老师 ，我 *可以* 早点 走 吗
？Lǎoshī, wǒ *kěyǐ* zǎo diǎn zǒu
ma?Teacher, can I leave a little
early?
- B:不 可以 。Bù
*kěyǐ*.No, you can't.
- A: 我 *能* 在 这里 抽烟 吗
？Wǒ *néng* zài zhèlǐ chōuyān
ma?Can I smoke here?
- B: 不 *能* 。Bù
*néng*.No, you can't.
Expressing Possibility
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
能 and 可以 can also be used to express possibility.
### Structure
可以 / 能 + Verb
### Example
- 明天 你 *能* 早点 来 吗 ？Míngtiān nǐ *néng*
zǎodiǎn lái ma?Is it possible for you to
come a little earlier tomorrow?
- *可 不 可以* 换 一 个 ？*Kě bu kěyǐ* huàn yī
gè?Is it possible to change it?
- A:外国人 *能 不 能* 参加
？Wàiguó rén *néng bu néng*
cānjiā?Is it possible for foreigners to
attend?
- B: 不 *能* 。Bù
*néng*.Not possible.
Talking about the Future
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
### Structure
会 + Verb / Adj.
### Examples
- 他 不 *会* 跟 你 结婚 。Tā bù *huì* gēn nǐ
jiéhūn.He's not going to marry
you.
- 你 *会* 生 我 的 气 吗 ？Nǐ *huì* shēng wǒ de
qì ma?Will you be mad at me?
- 这样 穿 *会* 好看 吗 ？Zhèyàng chuān *huì*
hǎokàn ma?Will I look good if I dress
like this?
- A: 今天 *会* 下雨 吗
？Jīntiān *huì* xiàyǔ
ma?Is it going to rain today?
- B: 我看 不 *会*
。Wǒ kàn bù *huì*.I
don't think it will.
Using Adverbs to Add Emphasis
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
'really' can speak Chinese!" Another way to put it is, "You are good at
speaking Chinese."
When 很 is placed in front of 能, the meaning takes on a
amazed/surprised tone on the action. Although more rarely used, it
emphasizes 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
"*can really* sleep" means that they can sleep a lot.
**Note:** 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.
### Structure
很 + 会／能 + Verb
### Examples
- 他 **很***能* 说 。Tā **hěn** *néng*
shuō.He's quite a talker.
- 我 妈妈 **很** *会* 做饭 。My mom cooks very
well.Wǒ māma **hěn** *huì*
zuòfàn.My mother really knows how to
cook.
- 她 才 五岁 ，但是 **很** *会* 说话 。The subject
has good speaking skills.Tā cái wǔ suì,
dànshì **hěn** *huì* shuōhuà.She's only
five but she's a smooth talker.
- 这个 女生 **很** *会* 打扮 。Zhège nǚshēng
**hěn** *huì* dǎban.This girl knows how
to dress up really well.
Note that 很可以说 is wrong and it doesn't mean anything.
Examples used with other adverbs:
- 他 **太** *能* 睡 了 。The subject can sleep a
lot, for many hours.Tā **tài** *néng*
shuì le.He can really sleep.
- 没想到 你 **这么***能* 吃苦 。Méixiǎngdào nǐ
**zhème** *néng* chīkǔ.I didn't expect
you to be a person who could handle so many burdens.
- 你 **真***能* 吃 !The subject can eat a
lot.Nǐ **zhēn** *néng*
chī!Wow, you really can eat!
- 中国 人 **真***会* 吃 ! The subject has great
knowledge about food and its culture, a true
connoisseur.Zhōngguó rén **zhēn** *huì*
chī!Chinese people can really eat.
Note that 很可以吃 is wrong and it doesn't mean anything.
Similar Expression with Different Meanings
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 我 的 脚 好 了 ，现在 又 *能* 跳舞 了 。Wǒ de
jiǎo hǎo le, xiànzài yòu *néng* tiàowǔ
le.I am able to dance now since my foot
is better. (The condition changed)
- 我 学 了 两 个 月 ，现在 我 *会* 跳舞 了 。Wǒ
xué le liǎng gè yuè, xiànzài wǒ *huì* tiàowǔ
le.I studied for two months. I know how
to dance now. (It's a learned skill)
- 我 爸妈 同意 了 ，现在 我 *可以* 跳舞 了 。Wǒ
bàmā tóngyì le, xiànzài wǒ *kěyǐ* tiàowǔ
le.My parents agreed. I'm allowed to
dance now. (Parents gave their permission)
Note that none of the three can be followed by the aspectual particle
过.
For a good visualization on how these three overlap, check out the
[Chinese Modal Verb Venn
Diagram](http://www.sinosplice.com/life/archives/2009/10/13/chinese-modal-verb-venn-diagram%7C).
See also
-------------------------------------------------------
- [Auxiliary verb "hui" for
"will"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Auxiliary_verb_%22hui%22_for_%22will%22)
- [Expressing a learned
skill](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_a_learned_skill)
- [Expressing ability or
possibility](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_ability_or_possibility)
- [Expressing
permission](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_permission)
Sources and further reading
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
### Books
- [对外汉语教学语法释疑201例](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E5%AF%B9%E5%A4%96%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E6%95%99%E5%AD%A6%E8%AF%AD%E6%B3%95%E9%87%8A%E7%96%91201%E4%BE%8B) (pp.
55, 65) \[ →buy\]
- [Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1
(3rd ed)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_1_(3rd_ed)) (pp.
219-20) [→buy](http://amzn.to/2xe9H5W)
### Dictionaries
- [现代汉语词典（第5版）](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%8D%E5%85%B8%EF%BC%88%E7%AC%AC5%E7%89%88%EF%BC%89) (pp.
989, 773, 610)
[→buy](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)
### Websites
- [Sinosplice: Chinese Modal Verb Venn
Diagram](http://www.sinosplice.com/life/archives/2009/10/13/chinese-modal-verb-venn-diagram)
[Categories](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Special:Categories):
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comparison](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/gramwiki/?title=Category:Grammar_comparison&action=edit&redlink=1)
- [B1 grammar
points](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Category:B1_grammar_points)
[](http://amzn.to/2iioVRP)
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