能néngcan; to be able to

1. 1.

   can; to be able toverb

2. 2.

   might possiblyverb

• 能can; to be able to

能 covers capacity and possibility; when you mean "know how" after learning, prefer 会, as in 会说中文.

1. HSK 1

   我能吃十个饺子。

   Wǒ néng chī shí gè jiǎozi.

   I can eat ten dumplings.

2. HSK 2

   你能帮我吗？

   Nǐ néng bāng wǒ ma?

   Can you help me?

3. HSK 2

   你的手机能上网吗？

   Nǐ de shǒujī néng shàngwǎng ma?

   Can your phone go online?

4. HSK 2

   这里不能游泳。

   Zhèlǐ bù néng yóuyǒng.

   You can't swim here.

会 marks a learned skill ("know how to"), as in 会说中文. 能 marks physical capacity, natural ability, or whether circumstances make something possible. For "I can eat ten dumplings," use 能, not 会.

1. 
   Speaker A:

   你能帮我吗？

   Nǐ néng bāng wǒ ma?

   Can you help me?

2. 
   Speaker B:

   能，我能帮你。

   Néng, wǒ néng bāng nǐ.

   Yes, I can help you.

3. 
   Speaker A:

   你今天能来吗？

   Nǐ jīntiān néng lái ma?

   Can you come today?

4. 
   Speaker B:

   不能，我今天很忙。

   Bù néng, wǒ jīntiān hěn máng.

   No, I'm very busy today.

5. 
   Speaker A:

   这里能游泳吗？

   Zhèlǐ néng yóuyǒng ma?

   Can people swim here?

6. 
   Speaker B:

   不能游泳。

   Bù néng yóuyǒng.

   You can't swim.

1. 1.Fill in the blank: 我___吃十个饺子。

   A能B是C的
2. 2.Fill in the blank: 这里___游泳。

   A不是B不能C没有
3. 3.Which sentence is about capacity, not a learned skill?

   A我会说中文。B我能吃十个饺子。C我是吃饺子。

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Related words

• 会huìcan; to have the skill; to know how toHSK 1
• 不bùno; not so; (bound form) not; un-HSK 1
• 要yàoto want; to need; to ask forHSK 1
• 想xiǎngto desire; to want (to)HSK 1
• 说shuōto speak; to talk; to sayHSK 1
• 有yǒuto have; there isHSK 1

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