Grammar · Verbs

会, 能 and 可以

English has one word for can. Chinese has three, split by skill, circumstances and permission.

会 is a skill you learned: a language, driving, swimming. 能 is whether the circumstances allow it right now, which is why it is also the polite way to ask someone for something. 可以 is permission, whether the rules or the person you are asking allow it. 能 and 可以 overlap in everyday speech, but when you are asking to be allowed to do something, 可以 is the safest.

Examples