{"id":3124,"date":"2019-11-03T10:40:19","date_gmt":"2019-11-03T10:40:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/chinesemoment.com\/chinese-grammar\/chinese-grammarthe-difference-between-neng-hui-in-chinese\/"},"modified":"2019-11-03T10:40:19","modified_gmt":"2019-11-03T10:40:19","slug":"chinese-grammarthe-difference-between-neng-hui-in-chinese","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chinesemoment.com\/my\/chinese-grammarthe-difference-between-neng-hui-in-chinese\/","title":{"rendered":"Chinese grammar\uff1aThe difference between \u80fd & \u4f1a in Chinese"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Can(\u4f1a) or Able(\u80fd) is an English word wher translating into Chinese can be tricky depending on the situation.<\/p>\n

The differences between the two are very real, and become relatively simple with ample practice and real world exposure.<\/p>\n

When you think a<\/em>bout “can” in English, it *can* mean a lot of things. It can indicate your “learned” ability to do something (I can play the piano), your ability to complete an action ba<\/em>sed on circumstances (I can go tomorrow), or whether you are “allowed” to do something (can we smoke in here?)<\/p>\n

We’ll take a look at both \u4f1a and \u80fd separately, dive into some simple example sentences, and finish up with key takeaways.<\/p>\n

1. \u4f1a- huì Definition: can, able, will<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ah, yes, the beloved \u4f1a. Co<\/em>njuring up images of meetings, parties, and all other types of social gatherings, it is one of the most commo<\/em>nly encountered of all Chinese characters (number 18 on the Mandarin Poster). For the purposes of this piece, let’s put aside its “social” definitions (\u793e\u4f1a- shèhuì -society, \u805a\u4f1a- jù huì- party), and focus specifically on its co<\/em>ntrast with \u80fd.<\/p>\n

The most common use of \u4f1a is “can” or “able to”, specifically for learned knowledge. Use it for actions you know how to do because you acquired the skill as a result of study, not necessarily because you were born with an innate ability.<\/p>\n

Examples:<\/strong><\/p>\n

T\u0101 huì zuò fàn
\u4ed6\u4f1a\u505a\u996d<\/div>\n
He can cook<\/div>\n
W\u01d2 bù huì shu\u014d rì y\u01d4
\u6211\u4e0d\u4f1a\u8bf4\u65e5\u8bed<\/div>\n
I can’t speak Japanese<\/div>\n
T\u0101 men d\u014du bù huì d\u01ce lán qiú
\u4ed6\u4eec\u90fd\u4e0d\u4f1a\u6253\u7bee\u7403<\/div>\n
None of them can play basketball<\/div>\n

\u4f1a is also commo<\/em>nly used to indicate “will”, or “will be”. As shown in the example sentences below, “I will…” or “it will” is typically “\u4f1a…”<\/p>\n

Examples:<\/strong><\/p>\n

míng ti\u0101n huì xià y\u01d4 ma
\u660e\u5929\u4f1a\u4e0b\u96e8\u5417?<\/div>\n
Will it rain tomorrow?<\/div>\n
n\u01d0 huì qù ma?
\u4f60\u4f1a\u53bb\u5417?<\/div>\n
Will you go?<\/div>\n
n\u01d0 fàng x\u012bn, míng ti\u0101n w\u01d2 huì zh\u01d4n shí lái
\u4f60\u653e\u5fc3\uff0c \u660e\u5929\u6211\u4f1a\u51c6\u65f6\u6765<\/div>\n
Don’t worry, I’ll be on time tomorrow.<\/div>\n

2. \u80fd- néng Definition: Ability, capable of, able to<\/strong><\/p>\n

Use \u80fd to indicate physical ability to do something or complete a task. Co<\/em>nsidering the present circumstances, \u80fd indicates whether you are “capable” of completing the action ba<\/em>sed on the situation.<\/p>\n

Examples:<\/strong><\/p>\n

w\u01d2 míng ti\u0101n bù néng qù yóu y\u01d2ng
\u6211\u660e\u5929\u4e0d\u80fd\u53bb\u6e38\u6cf3<\/div>\n
I can’t go swimming tomorrow<\/div>\n
T\u0101 y\u012b cì néng h\u0113 7 píng pí ji\u01d4
\u4ed6\u4e00\u6b21\u80fd\u559d7\u5e73\u5564\u9152<\/div>\n
He can drink 7 bottles of beer in one go<\/div>\n
N\u01d0 néng b\u0101ng w\u01d2 y\u012b gè máng ma?
\u4f60\u80fd\u5e2e\u6211\u4e00\u4e2a\u5fd9?<\/div>\n
Can you help me for a minute?<\/div>\n

\u80fd can also mean “be allowed to” or “may do”. In this case it is often interchangeable with \u53ef\u4ee5, but not with \u4f1a.<\/p>\n

Examples:<\/strong><\/p>\n

zài shì nèi bù néng ch\u014du y\u0101n
\u5728\u5ba4\u5185\u4e0d\u80fd\u62bd\u70df<\/div>\n
Smoking not allowed inside<\/div>\n
w\u01d2 néng cháng y\u012b xià ma?
\u6211\u80fd\u5c1d\u4e00\u4e0b\u5417?<\/div>\n
Can I have a try?<\/div>\n

So…Remember this!<\/strong><\/p>\n

1. \u6211\u4f1a\u559d\u9152\uff0c \u4f46\u662f\u73b0\u5728\u4e0d\u80fd. I am able to drink alcohol, but I cannot right now. Thus, I \u4f1a drink, but right now, because of present circumstances (I have to drive later, I have an im<\/em>portant meeting in the morning, my girlfriend will get angry), I \u4e0d\u80fd.<\/p>\n

2. Use \u80fd when your physical ability to do something is dependent on the situation. Use \u4f1a for learned ability, blind to present circumstance.<\/p>\n

3. In addition to both meaning “can”, \u4f1a means “will” or “will do”, wher \u80fd means “allowed to”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n