Comparing "hui," "neng," "keyi"

Level

B1 / HSK2
Level

B1
Level

HSK2
Similar to
- Expressing ability or possibility with "neng" (A1)
- Expressing permission with "keyi" (A1)
Similar to
- Expressing ability or possibility with "neng" (HSK1)
- Expressing permission with "keyi" (HSK2)
Used for

Describing actions, Requesting, Expressing possibility, Expressing ability, Expressing permission with "keyi"
Keywords

会, 可以, 能

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。

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。

Sources and further reading

Comparing "hui," "neng," "keyi"

Contents

会 can mean "know how to"

Structure

Examples

会 can also mean something is gonna to happen

Structure

Examples

很会 means 'to be good at"

Structure

Examples

能 means "to be able to"

Structure

Examples

可以 means "to have permission to"

Structure

Examples

Examples of similar expressions, but with different meanings

Example dialog

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Dictionaries

Websites