Language/Mandarin-chinese/Vocabulary/能-néng

How to use 能 neng

Hello everybody!

In today's lesson, we will teach you how to use the Chinese verb 能 neng.

Feel free to edit this wiki page, if you think it can be improved.

能 neng indicates the ability to do something:

• 我能打电话 wǒ néng dǎ diàn huà

I can call.

(I can do it)

There is a nuance with 会 huì "know how to do something", even if the use is sometimes very close:

• 能说话. néng shuō huà

I can speak.

(I have the physical capacity: mouth, tongue, etc.)

• 会说话. huì shuō huà

I can speak.

(because I have learned it, it is a know-how and in this sense the sentence is also understood by the eloquence: "I know how to speak well.")

能 neng also indicates permission:

• 我能不能 去看 他? wǒ néng bù néng qù kān tā?

Can I go see him?

• 不能 bù néng

No.

Sources

http://www.chine-culture.com/chinois/cours-de-chinois-6-grammaire.php