\tThere is a quiz associated with this lesson.<\/p>\n
\tOne of the difficulties when translating from one language to another is that certain words can have more than meaning. The English word can is a good example.<\/p>\n
\tBeside the obvious distinction between can = noun and can = auxiliary verb, there are several meanings for the auxiliary verb can, and these meanings each take a different word in Mandarin Chinese.<\/p>\n
\t <\/p>\n
\t0:01
\t\/
\t2:50<\/p>\n
\t DAYS OF THE WEEK | BASIC MANDARIN
\tPERMISSION
\tThe first meaning of "can" is "permission" – Can I use your pen? This "can" in Mandarin is \u53ef\u4ee5 k\u011by\u01d0:<\/p>\n
\tW\u01d2 k\u011b bù k\u011b y\u01d0 yòng n\u01d0 de b\u01d0?
\tCan I use your pen?
\t\u6211\u53ef\u4e0d\u53ef\u4ee5\u7528\u4f60\u7684\u7b46?
\t\u6211\u53ef\u4e0d\u53ef\u4ee5\u7528\u4f60\u7684\u7b14?
\tThe answer to this question would be either:<\/p>\n
\tk\u011b y\u01d0
\t\u53ef\u4ee5
\tcan (yes)<\/p>\n
\tor<\/p>\n
\tbù k\u011b y\u01d0
\t\u4e0d\u53ef\u4ee5
\tcannot (no)
\tWe can also use \u53ef\u4ee5 k\u011by\u01d0 to suggest an alternative idea, as in:<\/p>\n
\tN\u01d0 y\u011b k\u011by\u01d0 xi\u011b zhègè zì.
\tYou can also write this character.
\t\u4f60\u4e5f\u53ef\u4ee5\u5beb\u9019\u500b\u5b57\uff61
\t\u4f60\u4e5f\u53ef\u4ee5\u5199\u8fd9\u4e2a\u5b57\uff61
\tWe can also use \u53ef\u4ee5 k\u011by\u01d0 (or \u4e0d\u53ef\u4ee5 bù k\u011b y\u01d0) in answer to a question using \u80fd néng – our next translation of can.<\/p>\n
\tABILITY
\tThe English word can can also mean "ability" – I'm not busy today, so I can come over. This meaning of can is translated with the Mandarin \u80fd néng.<\/p>\n
\tWe use \u80fd néng when talking about inherent physical ability, as in “People can’t fly (because they don’t have wings),” or “I can lift a car (because I’m very strong).”<\/p>\n
\tWe can also use \u80fd néng to talk about permission or possibility due to external factors: “I can’t come (because I’m busy right now),” or “I can’t tell you (because I promised to keep it a secret)”.<\/p>\n
\tThere is a bit of overlap between \u80fd néng and \u53ef\u4ee5 k\u011by\u01d0, as in a sentence like:<\/p>\n
\tW\u01d2 néng bu néng yòng n\u01d0 de b\u01d0?
\tCan I use your pen?
\t\u6211\u80fd\u4e0d\u80fd\u7528\u4f60\u7684\u7b46?
\t\u6211\u80fd\u4e0d\u80fd\u7528\u4f60\u7684\u7b14?
\tAs we have already seen, the sentence above could be said with k\u011b bù k\u011by\u01d0 instead of néng bu néng.<\/p>\n
\tSKILL
\tThe final meaning of can is "skill" – I can speak French.<\/p>\n
\tTo express this idea in Mandarin, use \u6703\/\u4f1a huì.<\/p>\n
\tWe use \u6703\/\u4f1a huì for things we know how to do because of our learned or acquired abilities:<\/p>\n
\tW\u01d2 huì xi\u011b zì.
\tI can write Chinese characters (because I’ve learned how to do that).
\t\u6211\u6703\u5beb\u5b57\uff61
\t\u6211\u4f1a\u5199\u5b57\uff61<\/p>\n
\tW\u01d2 bú huì shu\u014d fa wén.
\tI can’t speak French (I’ve never learned how to).
\t\u6211\u4e0d\u6703\u8aaa\u6cd5\u6587\uff61
\t\u6211\u4e0d\u4f1a\u8bf4\u6cd5\u6587\uff61
\t <\/p>\n