Expressing ability or possibility with "neng"
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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.
Contents
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。I can eat 40 dumplings.
- 他 能 工作 24 个 小时。He can work 24 hours.
- 你 能 帮 我 找到 他 吗？ Can you help me find him?
- 你 的 手机 能 上网 吗？Can your cellphone go on the internet?
- 一 岁 的 宝宝 能 说话 吗？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
- 一 千 块 能 买 一 个 手机 吗？Can one thousand kuai buy a cellphone?/Can I buy a cellphone with one thousand kuai?
- 开车 一 个 小时 能 到 家 吗？Is it possible to drive home in one hour?
- 他们 明天 能 早点 来 吗？Is it possible for them to come a little earlier tomorrow?
- 你们 能 小 声 一点 吗？Is it possible for you to lower your voice down?
- 你 能 告诉 我 她 的 手机号码？Is it possible for you to tell me her cellphone number?
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？Could I ask you a question?
- 我 能 坐 在 这里 吗？Could I sit here?
- 这里 不 能 游泳。(it's not allowed, or not possible for other reasons)You can't swim here.
- 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.
- 工作 的 时候 不 能 玩 手机。At work, you can't play with cellphone.
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
