会 vs 能 vs 可以

huì vs néng vs kě yǐ

Comparing "hui", "neng" and "keyi"

All three translate as "can", but they answer different questions: did you learn it, are you able right now, are you allowed?

会 = learned · 能 = circumstances · 可以 = permitted

How it works

我会跳舞 — I know how to dance, because I learned. 这里不能跳舞 — dancing isn't possible here. 我可以请你跳舞吗? — may I ask you to dance?

能 and 可以 overlap heavily for permission, and either is usually fine. 会 never means permission.

For "not allowed", 不能 is the default. 不会 would mean you lack the skill.

Examples

  • wǒ huì tiào wǔ

    我会跳舞。

    I know how to dance.

  • zhè lǐ bù néng tiào wǔ

    这里不能跳舞。

    You can't dance here.

  • wǒ kě yǐ qǐng nǐ tiào wǔ ma?

    我可以请你跳舞吗?

    May I ask you to dance?