Chinese word

能不能

Pronunciation

Pinyinnéng bù néng

Meaning

  • auxiliary verbcan

Example

你能不能帮我一下？nǐ néng bù néng bāng wǒ yí xià

Can you help me for a moment?

Illustration for 能不能 (can)

More examples

我肚子不舒服，我能不能晚一点吃饭？wǒ dǔ zi bù shū fú wǒ néng bù néng wǎn yì diǎn chī fàn

My stomach feels uncomfortable, so can I eat a little later?

Core concept

A spoken yes-or-no check on whether an action is possible or allowed.

Common phrases

  • 你能不能告诉我原因nǐ néng bù néng gào sù wǒ yuán yīn

    Can you tell me why

  • 我能不能进来wǒ néng bù néng jìn lái

    may I come in

  • 你能不能再说一遍nǐ néng bù néng zài shuō yí biàn

    Can you say that again

Similar words

能néng: Expresses possibility based on a person's ability or the circumstances.
可以ké yǐ: Seeks permission or checks whether an action is possible in the circumstances.
会huì: Expresses a learned skill or ability gained from practice or experience.
能否néng fǒu: Asks in a formal way whether an action is possible.

Definition in Chinese

用于口语中询问对方是否有能力或允许做某事，属于“能+不+能”的疑问形式，常用来提出请求或确认可否。yòng yú kóu yǔ zhōng xún wèn duì fāng shì fǒu yǒu néng lì huò yún xǔ zuò mǒu shì shǔ yú néng bù néng de yí wèn xíng shì cháng yòng lái tí chū qǐng qiú huò què rèn ké fǒu

Word origin

能 (néng, "can") + 不 (bù, "not") + 能 (néng, "can") places the positive and negative forms together to ask whether an action is possible or allowed.

Usage tips

  • English often separates ability with "can" from permission with "may", but this Chinese form can cover both, so the situation supplies the difference.

Other meanings

  • be possibleauxiliary verb
  • mayauxiliary verb

Opposites

Word lists with this word