会 vs 能 vs 可以
会 vs 能 vs 可以: Can, Able, and May in Chinese
Quick Summary
会 = learned skill; 能 = physical/circumstantial ability; 可以 = permission or possibility.
Detailed Breakdown
huì / kuài
Learned ability, will (future)
Grammar Pattern
会 + Verb (know how to / will)Examples
我会游泳
wǒ huì yóuyǒng
I can swim (learned skill)
我会说中文
wǒ huì shuō Zhōngwén
I can speak Chinese
明天会下雨
míngtiān huì xiàyǔ
It will rain tomorrow
néng
Physical ability, circumstantial possibility
Grammar Pattern
能 + Verb (able to / capable of)Examples
我今天不能来
wǒ jīntiān bù néng lái
I can't come today
你能帮我吗？
nǐ néng bāng wǒ ma?
Can you help me?
他能跑很快
tā néng pǎo hěn kuài
He can run very fast
kěyǐ
Permission, acceptable possibility
Grammar Pattern
可以 + Verb (may / allowed to)Examples
我可以进来吗？
wǒ kěyǐ jìnlái ma?
May I come in?
这里可以拍照
zhèlǐ kěyǐ pāizhào
Photography is allowed here
可以，没问题
kěyǐ, méi wèntí
Sure, no problem
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Aspect | 会 | 能 | 可以 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type of "can" | learned skill | ability/capacity | permission |
| Question | Do you know how? | Are you able? | Are you allowed? |
| Example context | languages, sports | physical tasks, situations | rules, requests |
| Negative | 不会 | 不能 | 不可以 |
Memory Tips
- 会 = learned through MEETING (会) teachers - acquired skill
- 能 = physical ENERGY (能) - raw ability
- 可以 = socially ACCEPTABLE (可) - permission granted
Common Mistakes
Speaking a language is a learned skill - use 会
When it's about schedule/circumstances, use 能
For permission, use 可以
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know which "can" to use?
会 = learned skill (languages, swimming). 能 = physical ability or circumstances (today I can/can't). 可以 = permission (may I?). Ask yourself: Is it a skill? Use 会. Is it about ability/situation? Use 能. Is it about permission? Use 可以.
Can 能 and 可以 be interchangeable?
Sometimes. For polite requests, both work: 你能帮我吗？/ 你可以帮我吗？ But for strict permission (rules), use 可以. For physical impossibility, use 能.
Related Comparisons
Practice Writing These Characters
Master stroke order with interactive animations and printable worksheets