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Beginner Mandarin Chinese: "Can you...?" with eChineseLearning

1,719 views · Published 24 October 2017 · 6:04 · Indexed 6 November 2026

Channel: eChineseLearning · 2017 · Education

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Teacher Rachel received a comment from a viewer. He wanted to know "What is the difference between 会(huì) 可以(keyi) if they both mean 'can'? Are there any other Chinese words to cover the verb 'can'", as in asking for permission?

The answer is YES, there is one more: 能 (néng)
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In today's lesson, we learn about the difference between 能 (néng)
 and 会 (huì).

The major difference is that 能 (néng) is only used when someone has mastered a skill and has the total ability to do something such as ride a bicycle or speak a language. 

The structure is:

Subject + 会 (huì) + a skill

我会游泳. (Wǒ huì yóuyǒng.) I can swim.

...this means that you have the know-how and skill to swim. Tell the world about it!
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On the other hand:

Subject + 能 (néng) + a skill

When using 能 (néng), it means that the situation allows for you to do something, not that you have mastered that skill just yet.

For example, maybe the water is not too cold, so "I can swim". When using 能 (néng), you are expressing that there are no conditions that prohibit you from doing something.
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If you need to express the negative version of this, you can add 不(bù).

我不会游泳. Wǒ bù huì yóuyǒng. I can't swim.

...in this situation, you would be explaining that you don't have the skills to swim. 
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我不能去. Wǒ bùnéng qù. = I can't go.

In this format, using 能 (néng), the speaker is saying that they can't go because they have some other obligation and the situation won't allow for them to go. They are prevented from going.
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