能

Learning Chinese: How to Say "Can" in Chinese

Chinese Characters: 能
Pinyin: néng
Pronunciation: neng2
English Translation: Can

Usage:

"能 (néng)" is a modal verb in Chinese that expresses the ability or possibility of doing something. It can be used in both positive and negative sentences.

Example:

Chinese: 我能说中文。
Pinyin: Wǒ néng shuō zhōngwén.
English: I can speak Chinese.

Chinese: 我不能游泳。
Pinyin: Wǒ bù néng yóuyǒng.
English: I can't swim.

Note that "能 (néng)" is followed by a verb to express an ability or possibility.

Variations:

There are a few variations of "能 (néng)" that you may hear:

可以 (kěyǐ): Another common way to say "can" in Chinese, especially in formal settings.
会 (huì): Used to express the ability to do something as a skill or talent.
Examples:

Chinese: 我可以用筷子吃饭。
Pinyin: Wǒ kěyǐ yòng kuàizi chīfàn.
English: I can eat with chopsticks.

Chinese: 我会弹钢琴。
Pinyin: Wǒ huì tán gāngqín.
English: I can play the piano.

Tips for Learning:

Practice saying "能 (néng)" out loud to improve your pronunciation.
Listen to native Chinese speakers saying "can" to get a sense of the natural rhythm and intonation.
Use "能 (néng)" in your daily conversations to practice using it in context.

Additional Notes:

"能 (néng)" is often used in conjunction with other modal verbs, such as "要 (yào)" and "得 (dé)", to express different shades of meaning.
For example, "我要能飞就好了 (Wǒ yào néng fēi jiù hǎo le)" means "I wish I could fly."
In some cases, "能 (néng)" can also be used as a noun to mean "ability" or "capability."