difference between可以and能

[Rhuang]

What is the difference between 可以and 能.I know they both mean "can" but are used in slightly different contexts.

[xiaokaka]

I think the page http://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Comparing_%22hui%22_%22neng%22_%22keyi%22 on the Chinese grammar wiki gives a good explanation:

"This is one of the trickiest comparisons, as 会 (huì), 能 (néng), and 可以 (kěyǐ) are often translated as "can." Sometimes they are explained as: 会 means "know how to", 能 means "to be able to", and 可以 means "to have permission to." Actually, they overlap somewhat.…"

[Lu]

不会游泳 You never learned how and will drown if you try.

不能游泳 It's not possible, there is no water around.

不可以游泳 It's not allowed and someone will yell at you if you jump into the pool.

[Rhuang]

could i get more examples? thanks (:

[Lu]

That's a lot of upvotes I got for such a simple post, wow. Here's another one then:

 

我不会做饭 I never learned how, everything burns or ends up undercooked.

我不能做饭 I don't own any pans and anyway the place I live doesn't have a kitchen.

我不可以做饭 I'm not allowed to cook as cooking here is considered a fire hazard.

 

Now try it yourself!

[daveonhols]

可以 is pretty generic and usually a safe choice for different meanings of "can".

能 is for thing you can do because you are allowed.

会 is for things you can do because you learned. I can drive, not I can see.

[NotChinese]

会 = personal skill and/or ability

能 = current circumstances

可以 = rules and regulations

 

我会。。。 = I am able to do this. My own skill sets allow me.

我能。。。= This situation makes it possible

我可以。。。= The arbitrary rules say I can do it. Nobody will mind if I do it.

 

我会说英文。

我在中国学习，能每天练习说汉语。

请问，我想在这里抽烟，可以吗？

 

我会开车，可是我的车坏了，不能开。明天我要开车去北京，但我爸爸说：“去北京要很长时间，你不可以开我的车！”

(Disclaimer - the above grammar might be imperfect, but hopefully it still shows the correct usage of the words)

[Shelley]

That's a lot of upvotes I got for such a simple post, wow

 

That's because it was such a simple, clear and easy to understand explanation .

 

I will never forget the differences now as I think about people yelling at me for jumping in the pool or drowning cos I can't swim.