会 / 能 / 可以: How to Say Can in Chinese
会/能/可以
会, 能, and 可以 all translate as "can", but split by meaning. 会 is a learned skill (会说中文 — can speak Chinese, having studied it). 能 is ability or being physically able in a situation (今天能来). 可以 often marks permission (可以进来吗). Their meanings overlap in some contexts, so choose the word that matches the intended meaning rather than the English word alone.
Published July 9, 2026
Reviewed July 9, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
会 skill, 能 ability, 可以 permission
Read the structure
会, 能, and 可以 all translate as "can", but split by meaning. 会 is a learned skill (会说中文 — can speak Chinese, having studied it). 能 is ability or being physically able in a situation (今天能来). 可以 often marks permission (可以进来吗). Their meanings overlap in some contexts, so choose the word that matches the intended meaning rather than the English word alone. Keep the model 会 skill, 能 ability, 可以 permission visible while you compare each sentence.
我会开车。
I can drive (I learned how).
Choose the right context
会 for a learned skill: 我会开车。 能 for ability or being able to in a situation: 我今天不能来。 可以 for permission: 这儿可以抽烟吗?
我今天不能来。
I can't come today.
Respect the boundary
会 for permission — permission is 可以 / 能: 这儿可以停车吗, not 这儿会停车吗。 Mechanically stacking 会 and 能 for one English "can" — say 我会说英文 for a learned skill, not 我会能说英文。 Using 可以 when you specifically mean a learned skill — 我会游泳 means you know how; 我可以游泳 is grammatical but usually means you are allowed or able to swim in that situation。
我会能说英文。
(I can speak English.)
Repair the pattern
Stacking 会 and 能 before the verb: 会能 cannot be stacked here as a direct translation of one English "can". For the learned skill of speaking English, use 会 by itself: 我会说英文。 会 used for permission: Permission uses 可以 (or 能), not 会. 会 is about a learned skill, so 这儿会抽烟吗 literally asks whether "here knows how to smoke", which makes no sense.
我会说英文。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
我会开车。
I can drive (I learned how).
我
会 skill, 能 ability, 可以 permission
This part occupies the 会 skill, 能 ability, 可以 permission position in the model pattern.
会
会 skill, 能 ability, 可以 permission
This part occupies the 会 skill, 能 ability, 可以 permission position in the model pattern.
开车
会 skill, 能 ability, 可以 permission
This part occupies the 会 skill, 能 ability, 可以 permission position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
我会开车。
I can drive (I learned how).
我今天不能来。
I can't come today.
这儿可以抽烟吗?
Can I (may I) smoke here?
他会说三种语言。
He can speak three languages.
我能帮你吗?
Can I help you?
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- 会 for a learned skill: 我会开车。
- 能 for ability or being able to in a situation: 我今天不能来。
- 可以 for permission: 这儿可以抽烟吗?
Do not use it when
- 会 for permission — permission is 可以 / 能: 这儿可以停车吗, not 这儿会停车吗。
- Mechanically stacking 会 and 能 for one English "can" — say 我会说英文 for a learned skill, not 我会能说英文。
- Using 可以 when you specifically mean a learned skill — 我会游泳 means you know how; 我可以游泳 is grammatical but usually means you are allowed or able to swim in that situation。
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
我会能说英文。
我会说英文。
Stacking 会 and 能 before the verb
会能 cannot be stacked here as a direct translation of one English "can". For the learned skill of speaking English, use 会 by itself: 我会说英文。
这儿会抽烟吗?
这儿可以抽烟吗?
会 used for permission
Permission uses 可以 (or 能), not 会. 会 is about a learned skill, so 这儿会抽烟吗 literally asks whether "here knows how to smoke", which makes no sense.
我会能说英文。
Do not stack 会能 for one English 'can'; a learned skill uses 会: 我会说英文。
这儿会抽烟吗?
Permission uses 可以: 这儿可以抽烟吗?
我可以会游泳。
For a learned skill, use 会 without 可以: 我会游泳。
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 会/能/可以.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 会/能/可以. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
会 / 能 / 可以: How to Say Can Questions
What is the difference between 会, 能, and 可以?
As a beginner default, 会 marks a learned skill (会说中文), 能 marks ability in a situation (今天能来), and 可以 marks permission (可以进来吗). Real usage overlaps, so context still matters.
How do I say "I can't"?
不会 = don't know how (我不会开车). 不能 = not able / not allowed in this case (今天不能来). 不可以 = not permitted (这儿不可以抽烟).
Which one means "I know how to"?
会. It's for skills you learned — languages, driving, swimming: 我会说中文, 我会开车. Use 能 or 可以 for ability in a situation or for permission.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide, 3rd ed.
Ross, Ma, Chen, He and Yeh · Routledge · 2024
Locator: Construction index and function chapters relevant to 会/能/可以
Supports the learner-facing account of where 会/能/可以 appears and what communicative job it performs.
Official sourceChinese: A Comprehensive Grammar, 2nd ed.
Yip and Rimmington · Routledge · 2016
Locator: Relevant sentence and clause chapters for 会/能/可以
Cross-checks the 会 skill, 能 ability, 可以 permission pattern, clause relationship, and limits represented by the reviewed examples.
Official sourceChinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: Appendix A, Level 2 grammar inventory
Supports directory placement at HSK 2; it does not independently prove usage rules.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Compare
非…不可非...不可: Absolutely Must
Ordinary ability and permission differ from an emphatic construction presenting necessity.
Easy to confuse
可能补语：得/不Basic Potential Complements
Preverbal modals and postverbal potential complements express feasibility through different structures.
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想/要/打算要 / 想 / 打算: Want and Plan
Ability and permission differ from intention, desire, and plans for future action.
Easy to confuse
愿意愿意 for Willingness
Being able or permitted to act differs from being willing to act.
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Ordinary ability and permission differ from an emphatic construction presenting necessity.