Difference between revisions of "Expressing ability or possibility with "neng""

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* 我 的 手机 <em>能</em> 上网。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ de shǒujī <em>néng</em> shàngwǎng.</span><span class="trans">My cellphone can go on the internet.</span>
 
* 我 的 手机 <em>能</em> 上网。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ de shǒujī <em>néng</em> shàngwǎng.</span><span class="trans">My cellphone can go on the internet.</span>
 
* 你  <em>能</em> 学 好 中文 吗?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>néng</em> xuéhǎo Zhōngwén ma?</span><span class="trans">Can you study Chinese well?</span>
 
* 你  <em>能</em> 学 好 中文 吗?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>néng</em> xuéhǎo Zhōngwén ma?</span><span class="trans">Can you study Chinese well?</span>
* 这 个 包 <em>能</em> 放 iPad 吗?<span class="pinyin">Zhè bāo <em>néng</em> fàng iPad ma?</span><span class="trans">Can you put an iPad in this bag?</span>
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* 这 个 包 <em>能</em> 放 iPad 吗?<span class="pinyin">Zhè ge bāo <em>néng</em> fàng iPad ma?</span><span class="trans">Can you put an iPad in this bag?</span>
 
* 你 <em>能</em> 自己 做 这 些 事 吗?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>néng</em> zìjǐ zuò zhèxiē shì ma?</span><span class="trans">Can you do these things by yourself?</span>
 
* 你 <em>能</em> 自己 做 这 些 事 吗?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>néng</em> zìjǐ zuò zhèxiē shì ma?</span><span class="trans">Can you do these things by yourself?</span>
  

Revision as of 02:52, 17 August 2015

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:

Subject + 能 + Verb + Object

Examples

  • 吃 四 十 个 饺子。néng chī sìshí gè jiǎozi.I can eat 40 dumplings.
  • 做 什么?néng zuò shénme?What can you do?
  • 我 的 老板 工作 24 个 小时。Wǒ de lǎobǎn néng gōngzuò èrshísì gè xiǎoshí.My boss can work 24 hours.
  • 一 岁 的 宝宝 跑?Yī suì de bǎobǎo néng pǎo?Can a one year old baby run?
  • 喝 十 杯 啤酒?néng hē shí bēi píjiǔ?Can you drink 10 glasses of beer?
  • 帮 你。néng bāng nǐ. I can help you.
  • 我 的 手机 上网。Wǒ de shǒujī néng shàngwǎng.My cellphone can go on the internet.
  • 学 好 中文 吗?néng xuéhǎo Zhōngwén ma?Can you study Chinese well?
  • 这 个 包 放 iPad 吗?Zhè ge bāo néng fàng iPad ma?Can you put an iPad in this bag?
  • 自己 做 这 些 事 吗?néng zìjǐ zuò zhèxiē shì ma?Can you do these things by yourself?

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:

Subject + 能 + Verb + Object

Examples

  • 上课 的 时候 不 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.
  • 在 这里 不 游泳。(it's not allowed, or not possible for other reasons)Zài zhèlǐ bù néng yóuyǒng.You can't swim here.
  • 买 这 个 玩具 吗?(the speaker is afraid his parents won't agree, or that it's not for sale) néng mǎi zhè gè wánjù ma?Can I buy this toy?
  • 我 不 给 你 钱。Wǒ bù néng gěi nǐ qián.I can't give you money.
  • 明天 你 做 完 吗?Míngtiān nǐ néng zuò wán ma?Can you finish tomorrow?
  • 星期天 十 点 你 来 吗?Xīngqítiān shí diǎn nǐ néng lái ma?Can you come at 10 o'clock on Sunday?
  • 我 不 那么 早 上班。Wǒ bù néng nàme zǎo shàngbān.I can't work that early.
  • 帮 我 买 个 东西 吗?néng bāng wǒ mǎi gè dōngxī ma?Can you help me buy something?
  • 一 千 块 买 一 个 手机 吗?Yīqiān kuài néng mǎi yīgè shǒujī ma?Can one thousand kuai buy a cellphone?/Can I buy a cellphone with one thousand kuai?
  • 这里 不 打车。Zhèlǐ bù néng dǎchē.I can't get a taxi here.

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

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

See also

Sources and further reading

Websites

Books