可以, 能, and 会

[coconutgrl22]

I've been dying to ask this question...

How do you figure out when to use 可以, 能, and 会?

I had it down a while ago, but can't seem to remember it anymore. If this is any help, I need to know because my new internship is asking me to use a lot of Chinese, in a business context, which I am entirely ill-prepared to handle. Any tips would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[xuechengfeng]

I think the simplest explanation I could give would be.. they all mean being able to do something in different contexts

可以 = When asking/telling if something is permissible. I.e. 我可不可以看電視﹖

能 = If someone is able to do something according to physical skill. I.e. 你能不能走路﹖

会 = Doing something according to learned/acquired mental ability. I.e. 我會說中文。

I think 會 & 能 may typically be used interchangeably, however, I could be wrong.

[Chinapage]

可以 = When asking/telling if something is permissible. I.e. 我可不可以看電視﹖

能 = If someone is able to do something according to physical skill. I.e. 你能不能走路﹖

会 = Doing something according to learned/acquired mental ability. I.e. 我會說中文。

可以 = May I ... ?

能 = Can I ...?

会 = I am able to ... / I know how to ...