Language/Mandarin-chinese/Vocabulary/能-néng
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How to use 能 neng
Hello everybody!
In today's lesson, we will teach you how to use the Chinese verb 能 néng.
Feel free to edit this wiki page, if you think it can be improved.
能 néng indicates the ability to do something:
- 我能打电话 wǒ néng dǎ diàn huà
I can call.
(I am able do it)
There is a nuance with 会 huì “know how to do something”, even if the use is sometimes very close:
- 我能说话。 néng shuō huà
I can speak.
(I have the physical capacity: mouth, tongue, etc.)
- 我会说话。 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 néng 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