néngyuàn dòngcí: huì, néng
Modal verbs 会/能 (能愿动词：会、能)
会 means you have learned a skill and know how to do it. 能 means you have the physical ability or the conditions allow you to do something. Both come before the main verb and are negated with 不.
核心例句
我会游泳，但今天不能去——会是学来的技能，能取决于当下的条件！
Wǒ huì yóuyǒng, dàn jīntiān bù néng qù — huì shì xué lái de jìnéng, néng qǔjué yú dāngxià de tiáojiàn!
I know how to swim, but I can't go today — 会 is a learned skill, 能 depends on the current situation!
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课程摘要
会 means you have learned a skill and know how to do it. 能 means you have the physical ability or the conditions allow you to do something. Both come before the main verb and are negated with 不.
会 and 能 both translate to 'can' in English, but they are used very differently in Chinese.
会 (huì) expresses a LEARNED ability — a skill acquired through study or practice. If you have taken lessons or practiced something and now know how to do it, use 会: 我会说日文 (I can speak Japanese — I've learned it), 她会弹钢琴 (She can play piano — she's trained), 他会做饭 (He can cook — he's learned how).
能 (néng) expresses CAPACITY or CONDITIONS — either a physical capability, or that circumstances currently allow the action. Use 能 when asking if something is possible given the situation: 你能帮我吗？(Can you help me? — is it possible?), 这里能拍照吗？(Can we take photos here? — is it allowed?), 我今天不能来 (I can't come today — circumstances don't allow it).
Key contrast: 我不会游泳 (I don't know how to swim — never learned) vs 我今天不能游泳 (I can't swim today — maybe I'm sick, the pool is closed, etc.).
Negation: Both use 不 — 不会, 不能. Questions: add 吗 or use 会不会 / 能不能.
Do NOT use 会 for physical conditions. Don't say 我会去医院 to mean 'I'm able to go to the hospital' — use 我能去医院.
语法句型
Subject + 会 + verb (learned skill)
Expresses that the subject has learned and knows how to perform a skill.
我会说中文，也会写汉字。
Wǒ huì shuō Zhōngwén, yě huì xiě Hànzì.
I can speak Chinese and also write Chinese characters.
他不会做饭，只会点外卖。
Tā bú huì zuòfàn, zhǐ huì diǎn wàimài.
He can't cook — he only knows how to order takeout.
语法句型
Subject + 能 + verb (capacity or conditions allow)
Expresses that the subject has the physical ability or that the current situation allows the action.
今天我不能去，明天可以吗？
Jīntiān wǒ bù néng qù, míngtiān kěyǐ ma?
I can't make it today — is tomorrow okay?
你腿受伤了，能走路吗？
Nǐ tuǐ shòushāng le, néng zǒulù ma?
Your leg is hurt — can you walk?
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