{"id":3714,"date":"2015-06-05T17:27:52","date_gmt":"2015-06-05T09:27:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.writtenchinese.com\/?p=3714"},"modified":"2022-06-03T21:43:53","modified_gmt":"2022-06-03T13:43:53","slug":"the-3-cans-whats-the-difference-between-hui-keyi-and-neng","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.writtenchinese.com\/the-3-cans-whats-the-difference-between-hui-keyi-and-neng\/","title":{"rendered":"The 3 Cans: What’s the Difference Between \u4f1a (hui), \u53ef\u4ee5 (keyi) and \u80fd (neng)?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

One of the challenges of learning any language is knowing when to use a new word in the correct context. How do we know how to use them correctly?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the first post in a series of blog articles aimed at trying to solve some of the issues we have with using Chinese words\/characters correctly or in the right situation.
Many of these questions have come from our users, but I\u2019m sure that many other students of Chinese have also at one point or another also felt confused about using these characters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

This article looks at the three modal verbs \u4f1a (hu\u00ec)\uff0c\u53ef\u4ee5 (k\u011b y\u01d0) and \u80fd (n\u00e9ng) and how to use them correctly. Of course, like all rules, there are always anomalies, so if you feel that some important rule is missing from this post, please leave a comment below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before we begin, here’s what each character means:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u4f1a<\/a> (hu\u00ec): can \/ to be possible \/ to be able to \/ will \/ to be likely to
\u53ef\u4ee5<\/a> (k\u011b y\u01d0): can \/ may \/ possible \/ able to
\u80fd<\/a> (n\u00e9ng) can \/ to be able to \/ might possibly<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u4f1a (hu\u00ec) and \u53ef\u4ee5 (k\u011b y\u01d0)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When I first began to learn Chinese, the first \u2018can\u2019 I learned was \u4f1a<\/a> (hu\u00ec), as in \u6211\u4f1a\u8bf4\u4e2d\u6587<\/a> (w\u01d2 hu\u00ec shu\u014d zh\u014dng w\u00e9n) ‘ I can speak Chinese’, although at the time that was obviously a bit of a fib.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, I learned \u53ef\u4ee5 (k\u011b y\u01d0). For the longest time I used this word\/bigram without actually knowing what this even meant and used it for practically everything that could not be replied to with \u5bf9 (du\u00ec)\uff01Eventually, I discovered that \u53ef\u4ee5 (k\u011b y\u01d0) also meant \u2018can\u2019, and this is when I asked the question that many of you have asked:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018What\u2019s the difference between \u4f1a (hu\u00ec) and \u53ef\u4ee5 (k\u011b y\u01d0)?\u2019 <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My Chinese teacher informed me that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u4f1a (hu\u00ec) is used for a learned skill such as being able to ride a bike, swim or speak a foreign language.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u6211\u4f1a\u9a91\u5355\u8f66\u3002<\/a> (w\u01d2 hu\u00ec q\u00ed d\u0101n ch\u0113) I can ride a bike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u6211\u4f1a\u6e38\u6cf3\u3002<\/a> (w\u01d2 hu\u00ec y\u00f3u y\u01d2ng.) I can swim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u6211\u4f1a\u8bf4\u6ce2\u5170\u8bed\u3002<\/a> (w\u01d2 hu\u00ec shu\u014d b\u014d l\u00e1n y\u01d4) I can speak Polish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

and<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u53ef\u4ee5 (k\u011b y\u01d0) is used when expressing permission to do something.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

In English, \u53ef\u4ee5<\/a> (k\u011b y\u01d0) is probably better translated as \u2018may\u2019, although \u2018can\u2019 is obviously less formal and more commonly used in oral English.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u6211\u53ef\u4ee5\u5f00\u7a97\u5417?<\/a> (w\u01d2 k\u011b y\u01d0 k\u0101i chu\u0101ng ma?) May I open the window?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The response is as simple as \u53ef\u4ee5 (k\u011b y\u01d0) or \u4e0d\u53ef\u4ee5 (b\u00f9 k\u011b y\u01d0).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Little did my naive self-know that there was yet another \u2018can\u2019 waiting around the corner to beat me with its linguistic scorn!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u80fd (n\u00e9ng) can<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Finally, came \u80fd<\/a> (n\u00e9ng). You can actually look at the character itself to help you understand the meaning of this \u2018can\u2019. A user on our Written Chinese Dictionary<\/a> left us a great way to remember the \u2018nature\u2019 of this character.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"2015-06-03<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n


From this clever interpretation of the character, we can understand that \u80fd can be used to describe a natural or physical ability.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u6211\u6709\u773c\u775b\uff0c\u6211\u80fd\u770b\u3002<\/a> (w\u01d2 y\u01d2u y\u01cen jing, w\u01d2 n\u00e9ng k\u00e0n.) I have eyes, I can see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being able to see is an ability that is natural to us, not learned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u80fd is used when an ability has already reached a certain level or is reduced in some way<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u4ed6\u4e00\u5929\u80fd\u8bb0\u4f4f50\u4e2a\u6c49\u5b57\u3002<\/a> (t\u0101 y\u012b ti\u0101n n\u00e9ng j\u00ec zhu 50 g\u00e8 h\u00e0n z\u00ec.) He can remember 50 Chinese characters per day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u4ed6\u624b\u53d7\u4f24\u4e86\uff0c\u4e0d\u80fd\u6253\u7bee\u7403\u4e86\u3002<\/a> (t\u0101 sh\u01d2u sh\u00f2u sh\u0101ng le, b\u00f9 n\u00e9ng d\u01ce l\u00e1n qi\u00fa le.) His hand is hurt, so he can not play basketball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although playing basketball and learning Chinese characters would be classed as a learned ability, in this case, \u80fd (n\u00e9ng) is used because, in the first example, the person has reached a certain level, or, as in the second example, has temporarily lost or recovered an ability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To emphasize the meaning of \u80fd (n\u00e9ng) and \u4f1a (hu\u00ec) use intensifiers such as \u5f88 (h\u011bn) or \u771f (zh\u0113n)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u4ed6\u771f\u80fd\u5403\u3002<\/a> (t\u0101 zh\u0113n n\u00e9ng ch\u012b) He can really eat!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u4ed6\u771f\u4f1a\u5403\u3002<\/a> (t\u0101 zh\u0113n hu\u00ec ch\u012b) He\u2019s a foodie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u771f\u80fd\u5403 (zh\u0113n n\u00e9ng ch\u012b) means he can eat a lot and that the speaker is somewhat impressed by it. \u771f\u4f1a\u5403 (zh\u0113n hu\u00ec ch\u012b), on the other hand, means that the subject’s ability to do something is at a high level. In this case, he understands about food and knows how to enjoy it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When there is a ‘possibility’ use \u80fd (n\u00e9ng) or \u4f1a (hu\u00ec)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u4f1a (hu\u00ec) is used to describe something that will probably happen in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u660e\u5929\u4f1a\u4e0b\u96e8<\/a> (m\u00edng ti\u0101n hu\u00ec xi\u00e0 y\u01d4.) It might rain tomorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u522b\u50ac\u6211\uff0c\u6211\u4f1a\u505a\u5b8c\u4f5c\u4e1a\u518d\u56de\u5bb6\u7684! <\/a>(bi\u00e9 cu\u012b w\u01d2, w\u01d2 hu\u00ec zu\u00f2 w\u00e1n zu\u00f2 y\u00e8 z\u00e0i hu\u00ed ji\u0101 de!) Do not force me, I will finish all the homework before I go home!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this case, \u4f1a (hu\u00ec) is used because the subject is able to finish the homework because it is a learned skill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u80fd (n\u00e9ng) can also be used when a situation allows an action to happen:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u73b0\u5728\u65f6\u95f4\u8fd8\u65e9\uff0c\u6211\u80fd\u505a\u5b8c\u4f5c\u4e1a\u518d\u56de\u5bb6\u3002<\/a>(xi\u00e0n z\u00e0i sh\u00ed ji\u0101n h\u00e1i z\u01ceo, w\u01d2 n\u00e9ng zu\u00f2 w\u00e1n zu\u00f2 y\u00e8 z\u00e0i hu\u00ed ji\u0101.) It\u2019s still early, I can finish my homework before I go home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fact that it is early allows the subject to ‘be able’ to finish the homework.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When \u4e0d\u80fd (b\u00f9 n\u00e9ng) is used, this often refers to something which is not allowed, such as smoking, or littering<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u4e0d\u80fd\u62bd\u70df<\/a>\u3002(b\u00f9 n\u00e9ng ch\u014du y\u0101n) No Smoking<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u4e0d\u80fd\u4e71\u6254<\/a>\u3002(b\u00f9 n\u00e9ng lu\u00e0n r\u0113ng) No Littering<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have a look at the following sentences and try and use the correct characters:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. \u4f60\u53bb\u627e\u4ed6\u5427\uff0c\u4ed6\u8ba4\u8bc6\u4e0d\u5c11\u4eba\uff0c_____\u5e2e\u4f60\u8fd9\u4e2a\u5fd9\u7684\u3002<\/a>(n\u01d0 q\u00f9 zh\u01ceo t\u0101 ba, t\u0101 r\u00e8n shi b\u00f9 sh\u01ceo r\u00e9n _____________b\u0101ng n\u01d0 zh\u00e8 ge m\u00e1ng de.) Go and find him, he knows many people ____________ help you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. \u4f60\u53bb\u627e\u5979\u5427\uff0c\u5979\u5f88\u70ed\u5fc3\u52a9\u4eba\uff0c_____\u5e2e\u4f60\u8fd9\u4e2a\u5fd9\u7684\u3002<\/a>(n\u01d0 q\u00f9 zh\u01ceo t\u0101 ba, t\u0101 h\u011bn r\u00e8 x\u012bn zh\u00f9 r\u00e9n, _____________ b\u0101ng n\u01d0 zh\u00e8 ge m\u00e1ng de.) Go and find him, he’s very enthusiastic to help people _________________ help you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The correct answers will be at the bottom of the post, so keep reading!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Negating Modal Verbs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s also good to know that modal verbs should be negated using \u4e0d (b\u00f9) and never with \u6ca1 (m\u00e9i).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u4ed6\u4e0d\u4f1a\u6e38\u6cf3 <\/a> (t\u0101 b\u00f9 hu\u00ec y\u00f3u y\u01d2ng) instead of \u4ed6\u6ca1\u6e38\u6cf3<\/a> (t\u0101 m\u00e9i y\u00f3u y\u01d2ng) meaning ‘He can’t swim’.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s a quick summary of using \u4f1a (hu\u00ec), \u53ef\u4ee5 (k\u011b y\u01d0) and \u80fd (n\u00e9ng)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u4f1a (hu\u00ec) is used to discuss:<\/strong>
a learned skill.
the possibility or likelihood that something will happen in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u53ef\u4ee5 (k\u011b y\u01d0) is used to express:<\/strong>
permission (or refuse permission).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u80fd (n\u00e9ng) is used to express:<\/strong>
a natural ability to do something (or not).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The answers for using \u4f1a (hu\u00ec) and \u80fd (n\u00e9ng) to describe a possibility are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. \u80fd
2. \u4f1a<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don’t forget, if you have any questions or additional comments to add to this post please leave them below!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One of the challenges of learning any language is knowing when to use a new word in the correct context. How do we know how to use them correctly? This is the first post in a series of blog articles aimed at trying to solve some of the issues we have with using Chinese words\/characters… Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3716,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[142,3],"tags":[259,157],"class_list":["use-editor no-single","post-3714","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-learner-tips","tag-beginners","tag-flashcards"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe 3 Cans: What's the Difference Between \u4f1a (hui), \u53ef\u4ee5 (keyi) and \u80fd (neng)?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" 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