Expressing ability or possibility with "neng"

能 (néng) is another Chinese word that is often translated as "can." However, it has a slightly different meaning than the others. 能 (néng) is used to express ability or possibility of doing something. This article will further explain its use.

Expressing Ability

能 (néng) indicates ability when used with activities that are not consciously learned or studied.

Structure

The structure to use 能 (néng) to express "ability" is:

Subj. + 能 + Verb + Obj.

Examples

• 我 能 吃 四 十 个 饺子。Wǒ néng chī sìshí gè jiǎozi.I can eat 40 dumplings.
• 我 的 老板 能 工作 24 个 小时。Wǒ de lǎobǎn néng gōngzuò èrshísì gè xiǎoshí.My boss can work 24 hours.
• 你 能 帮 我 买 个 东西 吗？Nǐ néng bāng wǒ mǎi gè dōngxī ma?Can you help me buy something?
• 你 的 手机 能 上网 吗？Nǐ de shǒujī néng shàngwǎng ma?Can your cellphone go on the internet?
• 一 岁 的 宝宝 能 说话 吗？Yī suì de bǎobǎo néng shuōhuà ma?Can a one year old baby talk?

Expressing Possibility

When used with activities that are consciously learned or studied, 能 (néng) generally means that circumstances do not allow execution of the action. In other words, it's not possible. Sometimes this is a bit of an exaggeration and actually just means it's "not allowed."

Structure

The structure to use 能 (néng) to express possibility is exactly the same:

Subj. + 能 + Verb + Obj.

Examples

• 这里 不 能 游泳。(it's not allowed, or not possible for other reasons)Zhèlǐ bù néng yóuyǒng.You can't swim here.
• 办公室 里 不 能 抽烟。 Bàngōngshì lǐ bù néng chōuyān.In the office, you can't smoke.
• 老板 说，在公司 不 能 吃 东西。Lǎobǎn shuō, zài gōngsī bù néng chī dōngxi.The boss said, in the office, you can't eat.
• 上课 的 时候 不 能 说 英文。 (my teacher has forbidden me from speaking English.)Shàngkè de shíhou bù néng shuō Yīngwén.In class, you can't speak English.
• 开会 的 时候 不 能 玩 手机。 Kāihuì de shíhòu bù néng wán shǒujī.During the meeting, you can't play with cellphone.

Other usages

From these examples we can see such circumstances might be pertaining to getting someone's consent or reliant on the speaker's health. 会 (huì) can be used instead if the speaker wishes to express that they are able to execute an action requiring a consciously studied skill.

Because 能 (néng) can express possibility, it is often used to form polite questions, something like "would it be possible" in English:

Examples

• 你 能 帮 我 吗?Nǐ néng bāng wǒ ma?Could you help me?
• 你 能 不 能 给 我 那 本书？Nǐ néng bùnéng gěi wǒ nà běn shū?Could you give me that book?
• 我 能 问 你 一 个 问题 吗？Wǒ néng wèn nǐ yīgè wèntí ma?Could I ask you a question?

See also

• Expressing permission with "keyi"
• Expressing a learned skill with "hui"
• Comparing "hui" "neng" "keyi"

Sources and further reading

Websites

• Sinosplice: Chinese Modal Verb Venn Diagram

Books

• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 219-20)　→buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1) (pp. 160-1) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed) (pp. 185-7) →buy