Difference between revisions of "Comparing "hui," "neng," "keyi""
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| + | This is one of the trickiest comparisons, as 会, 能, and 可以 are often translated as "can" in sentences. Often, they are explained as: 会 means "know how to", 能 means "to be able to", and 可以 means "to have permission to".In real life, they actually overlap a little bit. In this article, we will look at their differences. | ||
这三个词相互交叉，具体图示可以参考sinosplice，我们这里只讲明三者的不同，其他情况要看具体的语境和语气判断句子的意思。 | 这三个词相互交叉，具体图示可以参考sinosplice，我们这里只讲明三者的不同，其他情况要看具体的语境和语气判断句子的意思。 | ||
| − | == 会 know how to == | + | == 会 can mean "know how to" == |
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| + | 会 expresses that an action that you had to learn or be trained in to do. | ||
"会"表示在经过学习以后懂得怎么做。否定形式是“不会”。 | "会"表示在经过学习以后懂得怎么做。否定形式是“不会”。 | ||
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| − | == 会 something gonna to happen == | + | == 会 can also mean something is gonna to happen == |
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| + | 会 is often used to express something in the future will happen. It is often used to express trends or possiblities. The negative form is also 不会. | ||
"会"还经常用于表示一些事情或者动作行为有发生的趋势或者可能性。否定形式是“不会”。 | "会"还经常用于表示一些事情或者动作行为有发生的趋势或者可能性。否定形式是“不会”。 | ||
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| − | == 很会 be good at == | + | == 很会 means 'to be good at" == |
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| + | 很会 can point to being very skillful at something, or doing something very well. It can sort of be translated as "really can", like "you can ''really'' speak Chinese!", meaning "you are good at speaking Chinese". | ||
"很会"不是指事情或者动作行为的发生可能性变大，而是指在做某事上很有技巧，做得很好。 | "很会"不是指事情或者动作行为的发生可能性变大，而是指在做某事上很有技巧，做得很好。 | ||
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| − | == 能 be able to == | + | == 能 means "to be able to" == |
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| + | 能 expresses having a certain ability or having obtained a certain requirement. | ||
”能“表示有某种能力或者达到某种要求。否定形式是“不能”。 | ”能“表示有某种能力或者达到某种要求。否定形式是“不能”。 | ||
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| − | == 可以 have permission to == | + | == 可以 means "to have permission to" == |
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| + | 可以 expresses another persons permission. I can be thought of in the context of "allowed or not allowed". | ||
"可以"表示有别人的许可。否定形式是“不可以”。 | "可以"表示有别人的许可。否定形式是“不可以”。 | ||
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| − | == | + | == Examples of similar expressions, but with different meanings == |
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
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| − | == | + | == Example dialog == |
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== See also == | == See also == | ||
| − | *Auxiliary verb "hui" for "will" | + | * [[Auxiliary verb "hui" for "will"]] |
| − | *Expressing a learned skill | + | * [[Expressing a learned skill]] |
| − | *Expressing ability or possibility | + | * [[Expressing ability or possibility]] |
| − | *Expressing permission | + | * [[Expressing permission]] |
== Sources and further reading == | == Sources and further reading == | ||
Revision as of 03:58, 22 February 2013
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Keywords
This is one of the trickiest comparisons, as 会, 能, and 可以 are often translated as "can" in sentences. Often, they are explained as: 会 means "know how to", 能 means "to be able to", and 可以 means "to have permission to".In real life, they actually overlap a little bit. In this article, we will look at their differences.
这三个词相互交叉，具体图示可以参考sinosplice，我们这里只讲明三者的不同，其他情况要看具体的语境和语气判断句子的意思。
Contents
会 can mean "know how to"
会 expresses that an action that you had to learn or be trained in to do.
"会"表示在经过学习以后懂得怎么做。否定形式是“不会”。
Structure
会 + Verb
Examples
- 他 会 修 电脑。
- 我 会 跳舞。
- 我 学 了 两 年 才 会 说 一点 汉语。
会 can also mean something is gonna to happen
会 is often used to express something in the future will happen. It is often used to express trends or possiblities. The negative form is also 不会.
"会"还经常用于表示一些事情或者动作行为有发生的趋势或者可能性。否定形式是“不会”。
Structure
会 + Verb
Examples
- 明天 你 会 来 吗？
- 你 太 过分 了，没 有 人 会 这么 做。
- 一会儿 会 下雨 吗？
很会 means 'to be good at"
很会 can point to being very skillful at something, or doing something very well. It can sort of be translated as "really can", like "you can really speak Chinese!", meaning "you are good at speaking Chinese".
"很会"不是指事情或者动作行为的发生可能性变大，而是指在做某事上很有技巧，做得很好。
Structure
很会 + Verb
Examples
- 这 个 女 孩子 很 会 唱歌。
- 我 的 妈妈 很 会 做 饭。
- 他 很 会 骗 人。
能 means "to be able to"
能 expresses having a certain ability or having obtained a certain requirement.
”能“表示有某种能力或者达到某种要求。否定形式是“不能”。
Structure
能 + Verb
Examples
- 你 能 吃 三 碗 米饭 吗？
- 你 能 记 住 所有 国家 的 名字 吗？
- 三 个 月 的 小 孩子 不 能 走路。
可以 means "to have permission to"
可以 expresses another persons permission. I can be thought of in the context of "allowed or not allowed".
"可以"表示有别人的许可。否定形式是“不可以”。
Structure
可以 + Verb
Examples
- 我 可以 进来 吗？
- 你 可以 帮 我 一下 吗？
- 不 可以 带 危险 物品 上车。
Examples of similar expressions, but with different meanings
- 我 现在 能 跳舞 了，我 的 脚 伤 好 了。
- 我 现在 会 跳舞 了，我 学 了 两 个 月。
- 我 现在 可以 跳舞 了，我 爸爸 同意 了。
Example dialog
- A: 我 可以 和 他们 一起 踢 足球 吗？
- B: 你 的 腿 还 没 好，现在 你 不 能 踢。
- A: 它 会 好 吗？
- B: 很 快 就 会 好 的。
See also
- Auxiliary verb "hui" for "will"
- Expressing a learned skill
- Expressing ability or possibility
- Expressing permission
Sources and further reading
Books
- 对外汉语教学语法释疑201例 (p.55,p.65) →buy
Dictionaries
- 现代汉语词典（第5版） (能p.989， 可以p.773，会p.610) →buy
Websites
