Language/Mandarin-chinese/Vocabulary/能-néng

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How to use 能 néng

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:

  • 我能打電話。/我能打电话。 Wǒ néng dǎ diànhuà

I can call. (I am able do it.)

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

  • 我能說話。/我能说话。Wǒ néng shuō huà

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

  • 我會說話。/我会说话。Wǒ huì shuōhuà

I can speak (because I have learned it).

我会说话 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


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