能: can (possibility, permission), and how it differs from 会
【一02】能愿动词“能”
Tone colorsā tone 1á tone 2ǎ tone 3à tone 4a neutral
Subject + (不) 能 + Verb
能 (néng) says you can do something because conditions allow it (time, health, permission): 明天你能来吗？ (can you come tomorrow?). 我明天不能去 (I can't go tomorrow).
It's also used to ask permission: 我能进来吗？ (may I come in?).
会 or 能?
• 会 = learned skill: 我会开车 (I know how to drive).
• 能 = possibility here and now: 我今天不能开车 (I can't drive today, I've been drinking, no car…).
Negative: 不能.
Examples
明天你能来吗？
Míngtiān nǐ néng lái ma?Can you come tomorrow?
我明天下午不能去。
Wǒ míngtiān xiàwǔ bù néng qù.I can't go tomorrow afternoon.
你能帮我吗？
Nǐ néng bāng wǒ ma?Can you help me?
这儿能上网吗？
Zhèr néng shàngwǎng ma?Can you get online here?
他会开车，今天不能开。
Tā huì kāichē, jīntiān bù néng kāi.He can drive, but he can't today.
Common mistakes
✗ 我不会来明天 → ✓ 我明天不能来 (being prevented = 能; time before the verb).
✗ 我能说一点儿汉语 for a skill → ✓ 我会说一点儿汉语.