can; to be able to
HSK level
能 is written with 10 strokes. The animation replays automatically.
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.
能 appears in 1 Fluentide podcast episode at natural native speed — each with the full Chinese script, pinyin, and line-by-line English translation.
Browse the full episode library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
Acquire it by listening
You just saw 能 in 1 episode. Fluentide keeps feeding you news episodes at your level, so this word — and thousands like it — resurface in real sentences until they stick. Full pinyin and translation every time. Free to start.
