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 is used to express ability or possibility of doing something. This article will further explain its use.

Expressing Ability

Structure

The verb 能 is used to express either ability or possibility. The structure is:

Subject + 能 + Verb + Object

Examples

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

• 我 能 吃 四十 个 饺子。I can eat 40 dumplings.
• 我 能 听懂 东北话。I can understand Northeastern dialect.
• 我的老板 能 工作 24 个 小时。My boss can work 24 hours.
• 一岁 的 宝宝 能 跑？Can a one year old baby run?
• 你 能 喝 十 杯 啤酒？Can you drink 10 glasses of beer?
• 我 知道 怎么做，我能 帮 你。I know what to do. I can help.
• 我 的 手机 能 上网。My cellphone can have internet.
• 中文 这么 难，你 能 学 好 吗？Chinese is difficult, can you study it well?

Expressing Possibility

The structure is exactly the same.

Examples

When used with activities that are consciously learned or studied, 能 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." It can be instead of "可以".

• 上课 的 时候 不 能 说 英文。 (my teacher has forbidden me from speaking English.)In class, you can't speak English.
• 在 这里 不 能 游泳。(it's not allowed, or not possible for other reasons)You can't swim here.
• 我 能 买 这 个 玩具 吗？(the speaker is afraid his parents won't agree, or that it's not for sale) Can I buy this toy?
• 我 不能 给 你 钱。I can't give you money.
• 明天 你 能 做 完 吗？Can you finish tomorrow?
• 星期天 十 点 你 能 来 吗？Can you come at 10 o'clock on Sunday?
• 我 不 能 那么 早 上班。I can't work that early.
• 你 能 帮 我 买 个 东西 吗？Can you help me buy a thing?

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

• 你 能 帮 我 吗?Could you help me?
• 你 能 不 能 给 我 那 本书？Can you give me that book?
• 我 能 问 你 一 个 问题 吗？Can I ask you a question?

See also

• Expressing permission
• Expressing a learned skill
• 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