How to Teach Can in Chinese - ‘keyi’ (can, may), ‘neng (can) and ‘hui’ (can)

Quick Take

If you are a new teacher, learn step-by-step how to teach the usages of 会【huì】, 能【néng】and 可以【kěyǐ. Information includes the similarities and differences between them, and the possible answer for 会【huì】, 可以【kěyǐ】and 能【néng】questions.

On this page

What is Covered in This Lesson

1. The usage of 会【huì】

2. The usage of 能【néng】

3. The usage of 可以【kěyǐ】

4. The different meanings with the similar examples.

5. 能【néng】and 可以 when they are interchanged.

6. The possible answer for 会【huì】, 可以【kěyǐ】and 能【néng】questions.

The Usage of 会【huì】

会【huì=can】means “know how to do something” or “skill."

Example:

We can speak Chinese.

We are able to speak Chinese.

我们【wǒmén=we】会【huì=can】说【shuō=speak】中文【zhōngwén=Chinese】。

It means we know how to speak Chinese or we have learned how to speak Chinese.

我们会说中文。

The Usage of 能【néng】

a. 能【néng=be able to】is used to express physical ability to do something and it is not necessary to study first to be able to do it.

Example:

He can lift very heavy things.

他【tā=he】能【néng=can】扛【gāng= lift with both hands】很【hěn=very】重【zhòng=heavy】的【de】东西【dōngxi=thing】。

他能扛很重的东西。

b. 能【néng=can, be able to】 is used to talk about possibility due to external factors.

Example 1:

A: Why are you crying?

B: I’m sorry, I can’t say.

A: 你【nǐ=you】怎么【zěn me=how, why】哭【kū=cry】了【le】？

B: 对不起【duìbùqǐ=sorry】，我【wǒ=I】不能【bùnéng=can not】说【shuō=say】。

A: 你怎么哭了？

B: 对不起，我不能说。

Here the speaker doesn’t want to share his/her personal problem.

Example 2:

Today she cannot sing because she has a sore throat.

今天【jīntiān=today】她【tā=she】不能【bùnéng=cannot】唱歌【chànggē=sing】，因为【yīnwei=because】她的【tā de=her】嗓子【sǎngzi=throat】疼【téng=acne, pain】。

今天她不能唱歌，因为她的嗓子疼。

It means she knows how to sing but today she cannot sing because she has a sore throat.

The Usage of 可以【kěyǐ】

a. 可以【kěyǐ=may】is used to indicate permission.

Example:

Mom, may I eat cake?

妈妈【māma= mother】，我【wǒ=I】可以【kěyǐ=can, may】吃【chī=eat】蛋糕【dàngāo=cake】吗【ma】？

妈妈，我可以吃蛋糕吗？

b. 可以【kěyǐ= may】is used to suggest an alternative idea, 也【yě=also】is generally used before 可以【kěyǐ】.

Example:

I’m Liu Xiang, you may also call me Peter.

我【wǒ=I】是【shì=am】刘翔【Liúxiáng=Liu Xiang】，你【nǐ=you】也【yě=also】可以【kěyǐ= may】叫【jiào=call】我【wǒ=I】彼得【bǐdé= Peter】。

我是刘翔，你也可以叫我彼得。

The Different Meanings with the Similar Examples

a. The different meanings between 会【huì】and 能【néng】

Example 1:

Younger male cousin can walk now.

Younger male cousin is able to walk now.

堂弟【tángdì= (paternal) younger male cousin】会【huì=can】走路【zǒulù=walk】了【le】。

堂弟会走路了。

It means, “Younger brother knows how to walk now” or “Younger brother has learned how to walk now”.

Compared that with example 2:

Younger brother can’t walk because his feet are injured.

弟弟【dìdi=younger brother】不能【bùnéng=can not】走路【zǒulù=walk, go on foot】因为【yīnwei=because】他的【tā de=his】脚【jiǎo=foot】受伤【shòushāng=be injured, be wounded】。

It means he knows how to walk but he cannot walk at the moment because his feet are injured.

弟弟不能走路因为他的脚受伤。

b. The different meanings between 会【huì】and 可以【kěyǐ】.

Example 1:

She can use computer.

She is able to use computer.

她【tā=she】会【huì=can】用【yòng=use】电脑【diànnǎo=computer】。

It means, “She knows how to use computer” or “She has learned how to use computer.”

她会用电脑。

Compared that with example 2:

She may use my computer.

她【tā=she】可以【kěyǐ=may】用【yòng=use】我的【wǒ de=my】电脑【diànnǎo】。

她可以用我的电脑。

能 and 可以 When They are Interchanged.

能【néng=can】can be interchanged with 可以【kěyǐ= can】when the sentence doesn’t have meanings with physical-ability related and possibility due to external factors as above examples. Here 可以【kěyǐ】is a bit softer than 能【néng】.

Example 1:

Can you give me a discount?

可以【kěyǐ=can】打折【dǎzhé= give a discount】吗【ma】？

能【néng=can】打折【dǎzhé= give a discount】吗【ma】？

可以打折吗？

能打折吗？

Example 2:

Can you help me please?

May you help me please?

你【nǐ=you】可以【kěyǐ=can, may】帮【bāng=help】我【wǒ=I】一下【yīxià=in a short while, for a while】吗【ma】？

The literal meaning is can/may you help me for a while.

你【nǐ=you】能【néng=can】帮【bāng=help】我【wǒ=I】一下【yīxià=in a short while, for a while】吗【ma】？

你可以帮我一下吗？

你能帮我一下吗？

Explain the Possible Answers for 会【huì】, 可以【kěyǐ】and 能【néng】Questions

a. For questions that use 会【huì=can】, the possible answers are 会【huì=can】or 不会【bùhuì=can’t】.

Example:

Can you sing? No, I can’t.

你【nǐ=you】会【huì=can】唱歌【chànggē=sing】吗【ma】？不会【bùhuì=can’t】。

你会唱歌吗？不会。

b. Both 可以【kěyǐ=may, can】and 能【néng=can】indicate permission, the possible answers are 可以【kěyǐ=can】 and 不可以【bù kěyǐ=can not】. 能【néng=can】can’t be used as an independent answer.

Example 1:

Can I borrow this book? Yes, you can.

May I borrow this book? Yes, you can.

这【zhè=this】本【běn=a measure word for books】书【shū=book】你【nǐ=you】可以【kěyǐ=may, can】借【jiè=borrow】给【gěi=give】我【wǒ=I】吗【ma】？可以【kěyǐ=can】。

Example 2:

这【zhè=this】本【běn=a measure word for books】书【shū=book】你【nǐ=you】能【néng=can】借【jiè=borrow】给【gěi=give】我【wǒ=I】吗【ma】？可以【kěyǐ=can】。

这本书你可以借给我吗？可以。

这本书你能借给我吗？可以。

Now, ask students to give the similar examples as above.