A bear, a powerful clawed beast. To be able to, can; ability, energy, or power. Private (厶) + moon (月) + two claws (匕匕) form the bear.
Old Chinese wrote 能 as a picture of a bear. Over time, the character stopped meaning 'bear' and started meaning 'able' or 'capable.' That's why 能 shows up in phrases about ability or whether conditions allow something.
能 is about whether your body or situation allows it now. Learned skills use 会.
Knowing a language is a learned skill, so 会 is natural. 能 sounds like you're able or allowed to speak right now.
Predictions about the future use 会. 能 is for ability or conditions, not weather predictions.
Being blocked by sickness is circumstances, so use 不能. 不会 sounds like you forgot how to swim.
会 = skill or prediction. 能 = ability or conditions. 可以 = permission or suggestion.
Think of three different questions. 会 asks: did you learn this? 能 asks: does your body or the situation allow it right now? 可以 asks: is it permitted, or is it a good idea? So 我会游泳 means you learned to swim. 我今天病了不能游泳 means your body won't allow it today. 这里可以游泳吗 means is swimming allowed here. 明天会下雨 uses 会 for prediction, not 能.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Learned skill | 我会游泳 (I know how to swim) | 我能游泳 (sounds like physical ability today) |
| Circumstance | 我今天不能游泳 (I'm sick, can't swim today) | 我今天不会游泳 (sounds like I forgot how) |
| Permission | 这里可以游泳吗 (is swimming allowed here?) | 这里能游泳吗 (asks if conditions allow, not the polite default) |
| Prediction | 明天会下雨 (it will rain tomorrow) | 明天能下雨 (sounds wrong) |
Use 不能 when circumstances block you. 不会 means you don't know how to work.
This is the classic mix-up. 不能上班 means you're unable to go to work today. Maybe you're sick, the bus broke down, or there's a storm. 不会上班 means you literally don't know how to do your job. That sounds strange and a bit insulting about yourself. Remember: 能 is about conditions and ability in the moment. 会 is about learned skills.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Blocked by circumstances | 我今天不能上班 (I can't go to work today) | 我今天不会上班 (I don't know how to work today) |
| Lack of skill | 我不会开车 (I don't know how to drive) | 我不能开车 (I can't drive — maybe drunk or no license) |
| Future possibility | 明天不能来 (can't come tomorrow) | 明天不会来 (won't come — different meaning) |
可以 is the safe, polite default for permission. 能 leans toward whether conditions allow it.
Both are understandable, but 可以 is what people reach for when asking permission. 能 often sounds like you're asking if your body or the situation makes sitting possible. So 我可以坐这儿吗 is the natural polite choice. Save 能 for cases like 我今天能坐吗 if you mean your back feels okay. In real speech people do say 我能坐这儿吗, but 可以 is the cleaner permission word.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Asking permission | 我可以坐这儿吗 | 我能坐这儿吗 (can sound like physical ability) |
| Stating permission | 这里可以停车 | 这里能停车 (sounds like cars are able to park) |
| Polite suggestion | 你可以试试 | 你能试试 (sounds like asking if you're capable) |
No. For predictions about the future, Chinese uses 会, not 能.
能 is about ability or conditions, not fortune-telling. If you're predicting the weather, use 会. So you say 明天会下雨. You can use 能 for possibility in some contexts, but not for plain future predictions. 明天能下雨 would sound like you're asking if rain is physically possible or allowed, which is strange for weather.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Future prediction | 明天会下雨 | 明天能下雨 |
| Skill | 我会游泳 | 我能游泳 (for learned skill) |
| Circumstance | 今天不能游泳 | 今天不会游泳 (sounds like forgot how) |
This heartwarming story shows how a small act of kindness can be passed on. Follow Gao Xianming as he learns an important lesson about generosity in his new city.
高先明 不能 上车，很不高兴。
高先明看见一个中国同学安小语，也是手里少五块钱， 不能 上车。
This playful poem will make you smile as you explore how Chinese words like 'computer' and 'phone' can be funnier than they seem. Get ready to enjoy simple HSK 1 vocabulary and a twist of logic!
超市非常小，电脑没脑子，电话 不能 打。
Meet Gao Youpeng, a friendly Beijing coworker who welcomes the narrator with local dishes and a simple language-exchange plan. This warm HSK 2 story is perfect for first readings about work and friendship.
我教他英文，他教我中文，每天学几个词，很快，我们的英语和汉语都 能 好很多。
Meet Xiao Shang, who is heading back to Shanghai. She compares two ways to travel and tells us why she prefers the slower one. This story helps you practice comparing transportation in simple Chinese.
但是她 可能 会坐火车回上海。
No questions or discussions yet. Have a question about this character/word? Be the first to ask!
