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.

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

  • 吃 四 十 个 饺子。néng chī sìshí gè jiǎozi.I can eat 40 dumplings.
  • 工作 24 个 小时。néng gōngzuò èrshísì gè xiǎoshí.He can work 24 hours.
  • 帮 我 找到 他 吗? néng bāng wǒ zhǎo dào tā ma?Can you help me find him?
  • 你 的 手机 上网 吗?Nǐ de shǒujī néng shàngwǎng ma?Can your cellphone go on the internet?
  • 一 岁 的 宝宝 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 到 家 吗?Kāi chē yī gè xiǎoshí néng dàojiā ma?Is it possible to drive home in one hour?
  • 他们 明天 早点 来 吗? Tāmen míngtiān néng zǎodiǎn lái ma?Is it possible for them to come a little earlier tomorrow?
  • 你们 小声 一点 吗?Nǐmen néng xiǎo shēng yīdiǎn ma?Is it possible for you to lower your voice a bit?
  • 告诉 我 她 的 手机号码? néng gàosù wǒ tā de shǒujī hàomǎ?Is it possible for you to tell me her cellphone number?
  • 一 千 块 买 一 个 手机 吗?Yīqiān kuài néng mǎi yīgè shǒujī ma?Is it possible to buy a cell phone with one thousand kuai?

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

  • 问 你 一 个 问题 吗?néng wèn nǐ yīgè wèntí ma?Could I ask you a question?
  • 坐 在 这里 吗?néng zuò zài zhèlǐ ma?Could I sit here?
  • 这里 不 游泳。(it's not allowed, or not possible for other reasons)Zhèlǐ bù néng yóuyǒng.You can't swim here.
  • 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.
  • 工作 的 时候 不 玩 手机。 Kāihuì de shíhou bù néng wán shǒujī.At work, you can't play with cellphone.

See also

Sources and further reading

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