Kilo Lingo

Mandarin · Chapter 5 · Lesson 20 · Common mistake

会, 能 or 可以?

All three become can in English. Mandarin keeps three different claims apart.

The rule

会 (hui4) is a learned skill: you can because you learned how. 能 (neng2) is physical possibility: you can because nothing prevents it. 可以 (ke3-yi3) is permission: you can because you are allowed.

Pick the right one

0/6

Pick the right one: 会 or 能 or 可以.

  1. 我说中文。 (I can speak Chinese)

    wǒ ___ shuō zhōng wén 。 (I can speak Chinese)

  2. 我今天不去。 (I cannot go today)

    wǒ jīn tiān bù ___ qù 。 (I cannot go today)

  3. 我去吗？ (may I go?)

    wǒ ___ qù ma ？ (may I go?)

  4. 他不做。 (he cannot do it)

    tā bù ___ zuò 。 (he cannot do it)

  5. 你帮我吗？ (can you help me?)

    nǐ ___ bāng wǒ ma ？ (can you help me?)

  6. 你走。 (you may go)

    nǐ ___ zǒu 。 (you may go)

You met this in chapter 3. Worth a second look if the drill caught you out.

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