Rhuang Posted April 7, 2015 at 04:39 AM Report Share Posted April 7, 2015 at 04:39 AM What is the difference between 可以and 能.I know they both mean "can" but are used in slightly different contexts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xiaokaka Posted April 7, 2015 at 06:24 AM Report Share Posted April 7, 2015 at 06:24 AM I think the page http://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Comparing_%22hui%22_%22neng%22_%22keyi%22 on the Chinese grammar wiki gives a good explanation: "This is one of the trickiest comparisons, as 会 (huì), 能 (néng), and 可以 (kěyǐ) are often translated as "can." Sometimes they are explained as: 会 means "know how to", 能 means "to be able to", and 可以 means "to have permission to." Actually, they overlap somewhat.…" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Lu Posted April 7, 2015 at 08:33 AM Popular Post Report Share Posted April 7, 2015 at 08:33 AM 不会游泳 You never learned how and will drown if you try. 不能游泳 It's not possible, there is no water around. 不可以游泳 It's not allowed and someone will yell at you if you jump into the pool. 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhuang Posted April 11, 2015 at 09:11 PM Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2015 at 09:11 PM could i get more examples? thanks (: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lu Posted April 12, 2015 at 03:55 PM Report Share Posted April 12, 2015 at 03:55 PM That's a lot of upvotes I got for such a simple post, wow. Here's another one then: 我不会做饭 I never learned how, everything burns or ends up undercooked. 我不能做饭 I don't own any pans and anyway the place I live doesn't have a kitchen. 我不可以做饭 I'm not allowed to cook as cooking here is considered a fire hazard. Now try it yourself! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveonhols Posted April 12, 2015 at 10:39 PM Report Share Posted April 12, 2015 at 10:39 PM 可以 is pretty generic and usually a safe choice for different meanings of "can". 能 is for thing you can do because you are allowed. 会 is for things you can do because you learned. I can drive, not I can see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotChinese Posted April 18, 2015 at 01:08 PM Report Share Posted April 18, 2015 at 01:08 PM 会 = personal skill and/or ability 能 = current circumstances 可以 = rules and regulations 我会。。。 = I am able to do this. My own skill sets allow me. 我能。。。= This situation makes it possible 我可以。。。= The arbitrary rules say I can do it. Nobody will mind if I do it. 我会说英文。 我在中国学习，能每天练习说汉语。 请问，我想在这里抽烟，可以吗？ 我会开车，可是我的车坏了，不能开。明天我要开车去北京，但我爸爸说：“去北京要很长时间，你不可以开我的车！” (Disclaimer - the above grammar might be imperfect, but hopefully it still shows the correct usage of the words) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelley Posted April 18, 2015 at 02:20 PM Report Share Posted April 18, 2015 at 02:20 PM That's a lot of upvotes I got for such a simple post, wow That's because it was such a simple, clear and easy to understand explanation . I will never forget the differences now as I think about people yelling at me for jumping in the pool or drowning cos I can't swim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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