Expressing ability or possibility with "neng"

Level

A1 / HSK1
Level

A1
Level

HSK1
Similar to
- Expressing a learned skill with "hui" (A1)
- Expressing permission with "keyi" (A1)
Similar to
- Expressing a learned skill with "hui" (HSK1)
- Expressing permission with "keyi" (HSK2)
Used for

Expressing possibility, Expressing ability
Keywords

能

能 (néng) is one of several Chinese words that is normally translated as "can" in English. However, 能 (néng) is used to emphasize one's ability or the possibility of something happening.

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.
他能工作 24 个小时。Tā néng gōngzuò èrshísì gè xiǎoshí.He can work 24 hours.
你能帮我找到他吗？ Nǐ néng bāng wǒ zhǎo dào tā ma?Can you help me find him?
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.

Structure

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

Subj. + 能 + Verb + Obj.

Examples

开车一个小时能到家吗？Kāi chē yī gè xiǎoshí néng dàojiā ma?Is it possible to drive home in one hour?
他们明天能早点来吗？ Tāmen míngtiān néng zǎodiǎn lái ma?Would it be possible for them to come a little earlier tomorrow?
你们能小声一点吗？Nǐmen néng xiǎo shēng yīdiǎn ma?Could you all lower your voices a bit?
你能告诉我她的手机号码吗？Nǐ néng gàosù wǒ tā de shǒujī hàomǎ ma?Could you tell me her cell phone number?
一千块能买一个手机吗？Yīqiān kuài néng mǎi yīgè shǒujī ma?Is it possible to buy a cell phone with one thousand RMB?

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

我能问你一个问题吗？Wǒ néng wèn nǐ yī gè wèntí ma?Could I ask you a question?
我能坐在这里吗？Wǒ néng zuò zài zhèlǐ ma?Could I sit here?
这里不能游泳。it's not allowed, or not possible for other reasonsZhèlǐ bù néng yóuyǒng.You can't swim here.
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.
工作的时候不能玩手机。Gōngzuò de shíhou bù néng wán shǒujī.When working, you can't play with your cell phone.

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

Expressing ability or possibility with "neng"

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