会 vs 能 vs 可以: Three Ways to Say “Can”
Chinese splits English “can” into three: 会 (a learned skill), 能 (ability or circumstances), and 可以 (permission). Picking the right one is the whole game.
Why this trips learners up
English gets by with a single word — “can”. Chinese splits that one job across three modal verbs, and choosing between them is one of the most persistent puzzles for learners: 会, 能, and 可以. Say the wrong one and you'll still be understood, but you'll sound a little off — and now and then you'll mean something you didn't intend.
Here's the core split. 会 (huì) is about a learned skill — something you studied or trained for (我会开车, “I can drive”). 能 (néng) is about ability or circumstances — being physically up to it, or conditions allowing it (我今天不能来, “I can't come today”). 可以 (kěyǐ) is about permission — whether something is allowed (这里可以拍照吗？, “Can we take photos here?”). They overlap at the edges, but those three centres of gravity steer you right almost every time.
The structure
Colour key
Each colour marks one grammatical role — and the same colour means the same role on every page in the Lab.
Examples in context
Real-world sentences, easiest first. Toggle pinyin or the translation, tap any word to see its role, or play the audio.
Tap a word to see its grammatical role.
wǒ 我 Subject huì 会 Pattern yòng 用 Verb kuàizi 筷子 Object
I can use chopsticks.
míngtiān 明天 Time huì 会 Pattern gèng 更 Adverb lěng 冷 Adjective
Tomorrow will be even colder.
wǒ 我 Subject néng 能 Pattern pǎo 跑 Verb wǔ gōnglǐ 五公里 Object
I can run five kilometres.
wǒ 我 Subject jīntiān 今天 Time bù 不 Negation néng 能 Pattern jiābān 加班 Verb
I can't work overtime today.
zhèlǐ 这里 Place kěyǐ 可以 Pattern pāizhào 拍照 Verb ma 吗 Question
Is photography allowed here?
wǒ 我 Subject kěyǐ 可以 Pattern zuò 坐 Verb zhèr 这儿 Place ma 吗 Question
May I sit here?
nǐ 你 Subject néng 能 Pattern děng 等 Verb wǒ 我 Object wǔ fēnzhōng 五分钟 Time ma 吗 Question
Can you wait five minutes for me?
zhè zhǒng shì 这种事 Subject bú 不 Negation huì 会 Pattern zài 再 Adverb fāshēng 发生 Verb le 了 Function word
This kind of thing won't happen again.
Common mistakes
Why it happens: For a skill you LEARNED, use 会, not 能. 我会游泳 means “I know how to swim” (you took lessons). 我能游泳 shifts the meaning to “I'm physically able to swim right now” — true, perhaps, but not what you meant.
Why it happens: Permission is 可以 (or 能), never 会. 会 is about skill and likelihood, so 我会走吗？sounds like “am I likely to walk?”. To ask whether you may leave, it's 我可以走吗？.
Why it happens: The negatives split too. 不会开车 means “(I) don't know how to drive”. After a few drinks you know how perfectly well — you're just not allowed to, so it's 不能开车. Pick the negative that matches your meaning.
Why it happens: When an ability is restored or depends on conditions, use 能, not 会. Once your hand heals, 我又能写字了 (“I can write again”) — 会 would be wrong, because you never un-learned how; only the circumstances changed.
Compare & contrast
| 会 — learned skill | 能 — ability / circumstance | 可以 — permission | The difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 我会游泳。wǒ huì yóuyǒng. | 我能游一千米。wǒ néng yóu yìqiān mǐ. | 这里可以游泳。zhèlǐ kěyǐ yóuyǒng. | 会 = you learned how to swim. 能 = you're physically capable (here, a distance). 可以 = swimming is permitted here. |
| 他会说日语。tā huì shuō Rìyǔ. | 我现在不能说话。wǒ xiànzài bù néng shuōhuà. | 可以说中文吗？kěyǐ shuō Zhōngwén ma? | 会 = a language you know. 能 = whether you're able to right now. 可以 = whether it's allowed. |
| — | 你能帮我吗？nǐ néng bāng wǒ ma? | 你可以帮我吗？nǐ kěyǐ bāng wǒ ma? | To ask someone to do something, 能 and 可以 both work — but 会 doesn't, because it isn't about skill. |
Try it yourself
Say “I can speak a little Chinese” — tap the words into the right order.
Related patterns
Quick reference card
会 vs 能 vs 可以: Three Ways to Say “Can” grammar.merrymandarin.com A pocket summary — print it and keep it by your desk.