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能

HSK 1
  • Modal verbs

Structure (结构 jiégòu)

Subject能Verb(Object)

Meaning (意思 yìsi)

The auxiliary verb 能 (néng) expresses the ability to do something, or whether something can or cannot happen.

Explanation (解释 jiěshì)

能 is a very common modal verb (能愿动词) used to express two main meanings:

  1. Innate or circumstantial ability: Indicates having sufficient conditions, strength, or time to do something. For example, 我能喝十杯啤酒 (I can drink ten glasses of beer) emphasizes one's drinking capacity.
  2. Permission or possibility: Similar to "can" in English. Used to ask for permission or speculate whether something can happen. For example, 这里能抽烟吗？ (Is smoking allowed here?).

Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)

  1. 我能说汉语。
    繁: 我能說漢語。Wǒ néng shuō hànyǔ.

    I can speak Chinese.

  2. 你能不能帮我一下？
    繁: 你能不能幫我一下？Nǐ néng bu néng bāng wǒ yíxià?

    Can you help me a bit?

  3. 他一分钟能跑三百米。
    繁: 他一分鐘能跑三百米。Tā yì fēnzhōng néng pǎo sānbǎi mǐ.

    He can run three hundred meters in one minute.

  4. 这里不能停车。
    繁: 這裡不能停車。Zhèlǐ bù néng tíngchē.

    You cannot park here.

  5. 明天你能来吗？
    繁: 明天你能來嗎？Míngtiān nǐ néng lái ma?

    Can you come tomorrow?