Chinese Verb "能" (néng)

can (ability/permission)

Auxiliary / Modal verb

Basic Usage

Ability

Subject + 能 + verb

他能跑得很快。

Tā néng pǎo de hěn kuài.

He can run very fast.

Permission

Subject + 能 + verb + 吗

我能进来吗？

Wǒ néng jìnlái ma?

May I come in?

Completed Action (了 (le))

Past ability

Time word + 能 + verb + 了

手术后他能走路了。

Shǒushù hòu tā néng zǒulù le.

After the surgery he could walk.

Experience (过 (guò))

Not applicable

能 as modal doesn't take 过

以前我不能吃辣。

Yǐqián wǒ bù néng chī là.

I couldn't eat spicy food before.

Ongoing Action (在/着)

Current ability

能 expresses capability

你现在能听到我吗？

Nǐ xiànzài néng tīng dào wǒ ma?

Can you hear me now?

Future / Intent (会/要/想)

Future with time word

Time + Subject + 能 + verb

明天你能来吗？

Míngtiān nǐ néng lái ma?

Can you come tomorrow?

Negation (不/没)

Negative with 不

Subject + 不能 + verb

你不能在这里吸烟。

Nǐ bù néng zài zhèlǐ xīyān.

You cannot smoke here.

Common Compounds & Related Words

Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning
能力	nénglì	ability / capability
可能	kěnéng	maybe / possibly
能干	nénggàn	capable / competent

Example Sentences

你能帮我吗？

Nǐ néng bāng wǒ ma?

Can you help me?

我尽可能来。

Wǒ jìn kěnéng lái.

I'll come if at all possible.

能不能便宜一点？

Néng bù néng piányi yìdiǎn?

Can you make it a little cheaper?