HSK 2
会 / 能 / 可以: How to Say Can in Chinese
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.
STRUCTURE
会 skill, 能 ability, 可以 permission
When to use 会/能/可以 — and when not
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?
Don't 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。
Right vs. wrong
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.
Examples
我会开车。
Wǒ huì kāichē.
I can drive (I learned how).
我今天不能来。
Wǒ jīntiān bù néng lái.
I can't come today.
这儿可以抽烟吗?
Zhèr kěyǐ chōuyān ma?
Can I (may I) smoke here?
他会说三种语言。
Tā huì shuō sān zhǒng yǔyán.
He can speak three languages.
我能帮你吗?
Wǒ néng bāng nǐ ma?
Can I help you?
Common mistakes
我会能说英文。
Wǒ huì néng shuō Yīngwén.
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?
Zhèr huì chōuyān ma?
Permission uses 可以: 这儿可以抽烟吗?
我可以会游泳。
Wǒ kěyǐ huì yóuyǒng.
For a learned skill, use 会 without 可以: 我会游泳。
Think you've got it?
Write your own 会/能/可以 sentence and check that grammar point first.
会 / 能 / 可以: How to Say Can FAQ
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.