ChineseGrammarWiki/ancien/Chinese-Grammar-Wiki/MD/B1.old/Grammar-wiki-B1-134.txt.html

<p>This is one of the trickiest comparisons, as 会 (huì), 能 (néng), and 可以 (kěyǐ) are often translated as &quot;can.&quot; Sometimes they are explained as: 会 means &quot;know how to,&quot; 能 means &quot;to be able to,&quot; and 可以 means &quot;to have permission to.&quot; 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 &quot;know how to&quot; and can express an action that you had to learn or be trained in to do.</li>
<li>能 (néng) means &quot;to be able to&quot; and expresses having a certain ability or having obtained a certain minimum requirement.</li>
<li>可以 (kěyǐ) means &quot;may&quot; or &quot;to be allowed to&quot; 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&quot; and expresses being very skillful at something, or doing something very well. It can be translated as &quot;really can,&quot; as in &quot;you <em>really</em> can speak Chinese!,&quot; in other words, &quot;you are good at speaking Chinese.&quot;</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 &quot;can really&quot; do something. For example saying that someone &quot;<em>can really</em> sleep&quot; 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_&quot;hui&quot;_for_&quot;will&quot;" title="wikilink">Auxiliary verb &quot;hui&quot; for &quot;will&quot;</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&amp;qid=1345693275&amp;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&amp;tag=allset-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369&amp;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&amp;qid=1345693609&amp;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>