會 vs 能 vs 可以: Picking The Right “Can / Will / May”
Your quick Taiwan-friendly guide to 會 (huì), 能 (néng), and 可以 (kěyǐ)—so you stop sounding like you’re asking permission to breathe.
English “can” is doing too many jobs. Chinese splits it into different “powers.” Pick the wrong one and you’ll accidentally say “I’m allowed to swim” (…cool?) instead of “I know how to swim.”
By the end, you’ll know exactly when to use 會 (huì) for learned skill / “will,” 能 (néng) for ability / feasibility, and 可以 (kěyǐ) for permission / “okay to.”
The 10-Second Rule (Yak Edition)
- 會 (huì) = know how to (learned skill) / will / likely to happen
- 能 (néng) = able to (ability, energy, schedule) / possible under constraints
- 可以 (kěyǐ) = may / allowed to / it’s okay
Shortcut: If you’re asking “Is it allowed?” → 可以. If you’re asking “Do you have the ability/time?” → 能. If you’re asking “Do you know how / will it happen?” → 會.
Meet The Trio (With Clean, Real Meanings)
| Word | Pinyin | Core Meaning | Best For | Quick Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 會 | huì | know how to / will / likely | learned skills; future prediction | 我會游泳。 Wǒ huì yóuyǒng. I can swim (I know how). |
| 能 | néng | be able to | physical/mental ability; time/availability; feasibility | 我今天能去。 Wǒ jīntiān néng qù. I can go today (I’m able/free). |
| 可以 | kěyǐ | may / be allowed to / okay | permission; “is it okay?”; polite requests | 我可以坐這裡嗎？ Wǒ kěyǐ zuò zhèlǐ ma? May I sit here? |
Quick Visual Cards (Burn These Into Your Brain)
會
huì — know how to / will / likely
今天晚上會下雨。
Jīntiān wǎnshàng huì xiàyǔ.
It’ll probably rain tonight.
能
néng — be able to / feasible
我今天不能出門。
Wǒ jīntiān bù néng chūmén.
I can’t go out today (not able / not possible).
可以
kěyǐ — may / allowed / okay
這樣可以嗎？
Zhèyàng kěyǐ ma?
Is this okay?
會不會 (huì bú huì) — will it / is it likely?
明天會不會很冷？
Míngtiān huì bú huì hěn lěng?
Will it be cold tomorrow?
能不能 (néng bù néng) — can you (ability/feasibility)?
你能不能早點來？
Nǐ néng bù néng zǎodiǎn lái?
Can you come earlier?
可不可以 (kě bù kěyǐ) — may I (permission)?
我可不可以現在走？
Wǒ kě bù kěyǐ xiànzài zǒu?
May I leave now?
The Three “I Can Go” Sentences (And Why They’re Not The Same)
我會去。
Wǒ huì qù.
I will go. (decision / future)
Also possible as “I know how to go” in weird contexts, but 99% of the time this is “I will.”
我能去。
Wǒ néng qù.
I can go. (I’m able/free; it’s feasible)
Think: time, energy, schedule, health, constraints.
我可以去。
Wǒ kěyǐ qù.
I’m allowed to go / It’s okay for me to go.
Think: permission, rules, “is it okay?”
Mini-Translation Tip: If English uses “can” but you could replace it with “am allowed to,” you probably want 可以 (kěyǐ). If you could replace it with “am able to,” you probably want 能 (néng). If you could replace it with “know how to” or “will,” you want 會 (huì).
Useful Phrases And Real-Life Sentences
Below are 50+ high-utility frames. Each one includes Traditional Chinese, pinyin, meaning, and a real sentence you can steal immediately.
Permission, Requests, And “Is This Okay?” (可以 / 可不可以)
| Hanzi | Pinyin | Meaning | Example (ZH) | Example (Pinyin) | Translation (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 我可以…嗎？ | Wǒ kěyǐ … ma? | May I…? | 我可以坐這裡嗎？ | Wǒ kěyǐ zuò zhèlǐ ma? | May I sit here? |
| 你可以…嗎？ | Nǐ kěyǐ … ma? | Could you…? | 你可以幫我一下嗎？ | Nǐ kěyǐ bāng wǒ yíxià ma? | Could you help me for a moment? |
| 可以嗎？ | Kěyǐ ma? | Is it okay? | 我晚五分鐘到，可以嗎？ | Wǒ wǎn wǔ fēnzhōng dào, kěyǐ ma? | I’ll be 5 minutes late, is that okay? |
| 可不可以…？ | Kě bù kěyǐ …? | May I / Is it okay to…? | 可不可以不要辣？ | Kě bù kěyǐ bú yào là? | Can it be not spicy? |
| 可不可以借我…？ | Kě bù kěyǐ jiè wǒ …? | Can I borrow…? | 可不可以借我筆？ | Kě bù kěyǐ jiè wǒ bǐ? | Can I borrow a pen? |
| 可以借我…嗎？ | Kěyǐ jiè wǒ … ma? | Could I borrow…? | 可以借我充電器嗎？ | Kěyǐ jiè wǒ chōngdiànqì ma? | Could I borrow a charger? |
| 可以等一下嗎？ | Kěyǐ děng yíxià ma? | Can you wait a sec? | 可以等一下嗎？我快好了。 | Kěyǐ děng yíxià ma? Wǒ kuài hǎo le. | Can you wait a sec? I’m almost done. |
| 可以進去嗎？ | Kěyǐ jìnqù ma? | May I go in? | 現在可以進去嗎？ | Xiànzài kěyǐ jìnqù ma? | Can I go in now? |
| 這裡可以拍照嗎？ | Zhèlǐ kěyǐ pāizhào ma? | Can I take photos here? | 這裡可以拍照嗎？ | Zhèlǐ kěyǐ pāizhào ma? | Is it allowed to take photos here? |
| 可以刷卡嗎？ | Kěyǐ shuākǎ ma? | Can I pay by card? | 請問可以刷卡嗎？ | Qǐngwèn kěyǐ shuākǎ ma? | Excuse me, can I pay by card? |
| 可以用信用卡嗎？ | Kěyǐ yòng xìnyòngkǎ ma? | Can I use a credit card? | 這裡可以用信用卡嗎？ | Zhèlǐ kěyǐ yòng xìnyòngkǎ ma? | Can I use a credit card here? |
| 可以外帶嗎？ | Kěyǐ wàidài ma? | Can I get it to-go? | 這個可以外帶嗎？ | Zhège kěyǐ wàidài ma? | Can I take this to go? |
| 可以開冷氣嗎？ | Kěyǐ kāi lěngqì ma? | Is it okay to turn on the AC? | 有點熱，可以開冷氣嗎？ | Yǒudiǎn rè, kěyǐ kāi lěngqì ma? | It’s a bit hot—can we turn on the AC? |
| 這樣可以嗎？ | Zhèyàng kěyǐ ma? | Is this okay like this? | 我放這裡，這樣可以嗎？ | Wǒ fàng zhèlǐ, zhèyàng kěyǐ ma? | I’ll put it here—is that okay? |
| 不可以 | Bù kěyǐ | Not allowed | 這裡不可以抽菸。 | Zhèlǐ bù kěyǐ chōuyān. | You can’t smoke here (not allowed). |
| 可以不要…嗎？ | Kěyǐ bú yào … ma? | Could you not…? | 可以不要那麼大聲嗎？ | Kěyǐ bú yào nàme dàshēng ma? | Could you not be so loud? |
| 可以先…再…嗎？ | Kěyǐ xiān … zài … ma? | Can I… first, then…? | 可以先看再買嗎？ | Kěyǐ xiān kàn zài mǎi ma? | Can I look first and buy later? |
Ability, Availability, And Constraints (能)
| Hanzi | Pinyin | Meaning | Example (ZH) | Example (Pinyin) | Translation (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 我能… | Wǒ néng … | I’m able to… | 我能自己處理。 | Wǒ néng zìjǐ chǔlǐ. | I can handle it myself. |
| 你能…嗎？ | Nǐ néng … ma? | Can you…? (ability/time) | 你明天能來嗎？ | Nǐ míngtiān néng lái ma? | Can you come tomorrow? |
| 今天能…嗎？ | Jīntiān néng … ma? | Can we… today? | 今天能改時間嗎？ | Jīntiān néng gǎi shíjiān ma? | Can we change the time today? |
| 我今天不能… | Wǒ jīntiān bù néng … | I can’t… today (not able) | 我今天不能加班。 | Wǒ jīntiān bù néng jiābān. | I can’t work overtime today. |
| 能不能…？ | Néng bù néng …? | Can you / is it possible to…? | 能不能再說一次？ | Néng bù néng zài shuō yí cì? | Can you say it one more time? |
| 不太能… | Bú tài néng … | Can’t really… | 我不太能喝酒。 | Wǒ bú tài néng hējiǔ. | I can’t really drink alcohol. |
| 能夠… | Nénggòu … | be able to (slightly formal) | 我能夠理解你的意思。 | Wǒ nénggòu lǐjiě nǐ de yìsi. | I’m able to understand what you mean. |
| 來得及 | Lái de jí | make it in time | 我們來得及趕上火車。 | Wǒmen lái de jí gǎnshàng huǒchē. | We can make it in time to catch the train. |
| 來不及 | Lái bù jí | not make it in time | 現在走也來不及了。 | Xiànzài zǒu yě lái bù jí le. | Even if we leave now, it’s too late. |
| 做得到 | Zuò de dào | can do it (achievable) | 你一定做得到。 | Nǐ yídìng zuò de dào. | You can definitely do it. |
| 做不到 | Zuò bù dào | can’t do it | 這個我真的做不到。 | Zhège wǒ zhēn de zuò bù dào. | I really can’t do this. |
| 扛得動 | Káng de dòng | can carry (physically) | 這個太重，我扛不動。 | Zhège tài zhòng, wǒ káng bù dòng. | This is too heavy—I can’t carry it. |
| 聽得懂 | Tīng de dǒng | can understand (by listening) | 你說慢一點，我才聽得懂。 | Nǐ shuō màn yìdiǎn, wǒ cái tīng de dǒng. | Speak slower so I can understand. |
| 看得懂 | Kàn de dǒng | can understand (by reading/seeing) | 這份文件我看得懂。 | Zhè fèn wénjiàn wǒ kàn de dǒng. | I can understand this document. |
| 說得出 | Shuō de chū | can say (get it out) | 我一緊張就說不出來。 | Wǒ yì jǐnzhāng jiù shuō bù chūlái. | When I’m nervous, I can’t speak. |
| 記得住 | Jì de zhù | can remember | 這個單字我記得住。 | Zhège dānzì wǒ jì de zhù. | I can remember this word. |
| 方便嗎？ | Fāngbiàn ma? | Is it convenient? | 你現在方便講電話嗎？ | Nǐ xiànzài fāngbiàn jiǎng diànhuà ma? | Is it a good time to call? |
| 有空嗎？ | Yǒu kòng ma? | Are you free? | 你週末有空嗎？ | Nǐ zhōumò yǒu kòng ma? | Are you free this weekend? |
Learned Skill, “Will,” And Probability (會)
| Hanzi | Pinyin | Meaning | Example (ZH) | Example (Pinyin) | Translation (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 我會… | Wǒ huì … | I know how to… | 我會開車。 | Wǒ huì kāichē. | I can drive (I know how). |
| 你會…嗎？ | Nǐ huì … ma? | Do you know how to…? | 你會游泳嗎？ | Nǐ huì yóuyǒng ma? | Can you swim (do you know how)? |
| 我不會… | Wǒ bú huì … | I don’t know how to… | 我不會煮飯。 | Wǒ bú huì zhǔfàn. | I can’t cook (don’t know how). |
| 我還不會… | Wǒ hái bú huì … | I don’t know how yet | 我還不會寫這個字。 | Wǒ hái bú huì xiě zhège zì. | I can’t write this character yet. |
| 學會 | Xuéhuì | learn to master | 我終於學會了。 | Wǒ zhōngyú xuéhuì le. | I finally learned it. |
| 會不會…？ | Huì bú huì …? | Will it…? / Is it likely? | 明天會不會下雨？ | Míngtiān huì bú huì xiàyǔ? | Will it rain tomorrow? |
| 會…的 | Huì … de | will (reassuring) | 放心，我會幫你的。 | Fàngxīn, wǒ huì bāng nǐ de. | Don’t worry, I’ll help you. |
| 會…吧 | Huì … ba | probably will | 他會同意吧。 | Tā huì tóngyì ba. | He’ll probably agree. |
| 我會去 | Wǒ huì qù | I will go | 我會去你的生日派對。 | Wǒ huì qù nǐ de shēngrì pàiduì. | I’ll go to your birthday party. |
| 我會遲到 | Wǒ huì chídào | I’ll be late | 我可能會遲到十分鐘。 | Wǒ kěnéng huì chídào shí fēnzhōng. | I might be 10 minutes late. |
| 會下雨 | Huì xiàyǔ | will rain / likely rain | 晚上會下雨，帶傘喔。 | Wǎnshàng huì xiàyǔ, dài sǎn ō. | It’ll rain tonight—bring an umbrella. |
| 會忘記 | Huì wàngjì | will forget | 我怕我會忘記。 | Wǒ pà wǒ huì wàngjì. | I’m afraid I’ll forget. |
| 會想到 | Huì xiǎngdào | will think of / come to mind | 我一聽到這首歌就會想到你。 | Wǒ yì tīngdào zhè shǒu gē jiù huì xiǎngdào nǐ. | When I hear this song, I think of you. |
| 會用 | Huì yòng | know how to use | 你會用這個App嗎？ | Nǐ huì yòng zhège App ma? | Do you know how to use this app? |
| 會說中文 | Huì shuō Zhōngwén | can speak Chinese (skill) | 他會說中文，也會說日文。 | Tā huì shuō Zhōngwén, yě huì shuō Rìwén. | He can speak Chinese and Japanese. |
| 會寫字 | Huì xiě zì | can write (skill) | 我會寫，但是寫得不快。 | Wǒ huì xiě, dànshì xiě de bú kuài. | I can write, but not fast. |
| 會彈吉他 | Huì tán jítā | can play guitar (skill) | 她會彈吉他，超厲害。 | Tā huì tán jítā, chāo lìhài. | She can play guitar—so good. |
| 會不會太…？ | Huì bú huì tài …? | Would it be too…? | 會不會太麻煩你？ | Huì bú huì tài máfan nǐ? | Would that be too much trouble for you? |
Common Confusions (And How To Fix Them Fast)
- Permission vs Ability: 不可以 (bù kěyǐ) = not allowed. 不能 (bù néng) = not able / not possible.
不可以帶寵物。
Bù kěyǐ dài chǒngwù.
No pets allowed.
我今天不能去。
Wǒ jīntiān bù néng qù.
I can’t go today (I’m not able/free). - Skill vs “Right Now” Ability: 我會開車 (Wǒ huì kāichē) = I know how to drive. But if you’ve got a broken leg, you might say:
我會開車，但今天不能開。
Wǒ huì kāichē, dàn jīntiān bù néng kāi.
I can drive, but I can’t drive today. - Asking “Can I…?” in Taiwan: Permission questions usually sound most natural with 可以 / 可不可以.
我可以用洗手間嗎？
Wǒ kěyǐ yòng xǐshǒujiān ma?
May I use the restroom?
Practice: Pick 會 / 能 / 可以
Fill in the blank with 會 (huì), 能 (néng), or 可以 (kěyǐ). Say it out loud. Yes, out loud. Your brain hates it, which means it works.
- 我____游泳，可是今天____去海邊。
Wǒ ____ yóuyǒng, kěshì jīntiān ____ qù hǎibiān. - 這裡____停車嗎？
Zhèlǐ ____ tíngchē ma? - 你明天____來嗎？
Nǐ míngtiān ____ lái ma? - 我____先看菜單嗎？
Wǒ ____ xiān kàn càidān ma? - 今天晚上____下雨。
Jīntiān wǎnshàng ____ xiàyǔ. - 我還不____寫這個字。
Wǒ hái bù ____ xiě zhège zì. - 你____不要小聲一點？
Nǐ ____ bú yào xiǎoshēng yìdiǎn? - 我現在不太____講電話。
Wǒ xiànzài bú tài ____ jiǎng diànhuà. - 我____幫你，但我五點____走。
Wǒ ____ bāng nǐ, dàn wǒ wǔ diǎn ____ zǒu. - 會不會太晚？我們____現在出發嗎？
Huì bú huì tài wǎn? Wǒmen ____ xiànzài chūfā ma?
Show Answers
1) 會 / 不能 2) 可以 3) 能 4) 可以 5) 會 6) 會 7) 可以 8) 能 9) 可以 / 得（可以說「得」或「要」也行） 10) 可以
One possible full read for #9: 我可以幫你，但我五點得走。
Wǒ kěyǐ bāng nǐ, dàn wǒ wǔ diǎn děi zǒu.
I can help you, but I have to leave at 5.
Quick Reference Summary
| What You Mean | Use | Starter Line | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Learned skill | 會 (huì) | 我會… | 我會做菜。 Wǒ huì zuò cài. I can cook (I know how). |
| Ability / feasibility / availability | 能 (néng) | 我能… / 你能…嗎？ | 你現在能講話嗎？ Nǐ xiànzài néng jiǎnghuà ma? Can you talk now? |
| Permission / “okay to” | 可以 (kěyǐ) | 我可以…嗎？ | 我可以拍照嗎？ Wǒ kěyǐ pāizhào ma? May I take a photo? |
| Future / probability | 會 (huì) | 會… / 會不會…？ | 他會遲到。 Tā huì chídào. He’ll probably be late. |
Final Yak Box: Sound Natural, Not Nervous
If you’re unsure, ask yourself: “Am I talking about permission, ability, or skill/future?” Then choose 可以 / 能 / 會. That’s it. No incense, no chanting, no 47-step grammar ritual.
One last stealable line for daily life: 這樣可以嗎？
Zhèyàng kěyǐ ma?
Is this okay?
