能
can; to be able to
néng
What does 能 mean?
能 (néng) is one of three HSK 1 modal verbs for 'can,' and the one most about possibility, capability, or permission given current circumstances. Use 能 when you mean 'is it possible right now / am I physically able' — 我今天能去 'I can go today (I'm free/able),' 这里能吃饭吗 'Can I eat here? (is it allowed/possible).' The key contrast English learners must master: 能 (circumstantial ability/possibility) vs 会 (huì, learned skill — 'I know how to') vs 可以 (kěyǐ, permission — 'I may'). 'I can swim because I'm not injured today' = 我今天能游泳. 'I can swim because I learned' = 我会游泳. Negative form is 不能 (bù néng, 'cannot / not allowed'). 能 also appears in 可能 (kěnéng, 'possibly / maybe') — one of the most useful HSK 1 compounds.
Character breakdown
ability; can; capable — originally a pictograph of a bear, repurposed for 'capacity'
Memory hook: Think 'I néng do it' — sounds a bit like 'energy,' which is exactly what 能 means in 能源 (energy) and 能量 (energy/power).
Example sentences
你能帮我吗？
Nǐ néng bāng wǒ ma?
Can you help me?
spoken
我明天能来。
Wǒ míngtiān néng lái.
I can come tomorrow.
neutral
这里不能抽烟。
Zhèlǐ bù néng chōuyān.
You can't smoke here.
neutral
他能说三种语言。
Tā néng shuō sān zhǒng yǔyán.
He can speak three languages.
neutral
Common phrases with 能
Synonyms
会 = LEARNED ability ('I know how to'). 我会开车 'I can drive (I learned to).' 能 = current possibility ('I'm able to right now'). 我今天能开车 'I can drive today (I'm free / I'm sober / circumstances allow it).'
可以 = PERMISSION. 我可以吃吗 'May I eat?' 能 also covers permission in some cases (能不能 sounds slightly softer for asking permission), but for 'is it allowed,' 可以 is the cleaner choice.
Don't confuse 能 with
会 is about learned skills and future likelihood ('will'). 能 is about current possibility/capacity. The classic confusion: 'I can speak Chinese' is 我会说中文 (learned skill), not 我能说中文 (unless you mean 'I'm able to speak Chinese right now,' i.e., your mouth is free).
可以 leans toward permission and 'it's okay to.' 能 leans toward possibility and capability. There's overlap — 'Can I sit here?' works as both 能 and 可以 — but in writing, 可以 is more about rules and 能 about ability.