Grammar · Chapter 11
会 and 能: know how and be able
会 + verb (know how) · 能 + verb (be able)
会 is “know how to”, a learned skill: 我会说汉语. 能 is “can”, when circumstances allow: 明天你能来吗？ 不会 means you never learned; 不能 means you can't right now.
Examples
- 我会说汉语。 Wǒ huì shuō Hànyǔ. I can speak Chinese.
- 我不会写汉字。 Wǒ bú huì xiě Hànzì. I can't write characters.
- 明天你能来吗？ Míngtiān nǐ néng lái ma? Can you come tomorrow?