Mandarin TempleMandarin Temple Beta Come for Knowledge. Stay for Wisdom.
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
能不能 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
能不能néngbùnéngcan or cannotHSK 3, unknown, 24 strokes, Medium
néngbùnéng(neng2 bu4 neng2)
  1. 1can or cannot
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

能不能néngbùnéng(neng2 bu4 neng2)

能不能 (néng bù néng) translates to 'can or cannot' and is commonly used to ask for permission or to inquire about someone's ability to do something. It is often used in casual conversations to seek confirmation or to make requests in a polite way.

Strokes24DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, asking for permission or assistance using 能不能 reflects the value placed on humility and respect in social interactions. It is common to phrase requests in a way that acknowledges the other person's autonomy.

Memory Tip

Think of the character 能 (néng) as representing 'ability' and 不能 (bù néng) as 'not able'. Imagine a person trying to lift a heavy box, pondering whether they 'can or cannot' move it. The repetitive structure of 能不能 emphasizes the choice between these two possibilities.

Meanings of 能不能

néngbùnéng(neng2 bu4 neng2)
1can or cannot
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 能不能

能不能Simplified
24Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2

Podcast: 能不能

JasonAmy

Podcast: 能不能

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 能不能

Usage Notes

Be mindful of tone when using 能不能, as it can sound demanding if not phrased politely. Common collocations include '能不能帮我' (can you help me) or '这件事情能不能解决' (can this issue be resolved). It is typically considered informal.

HSK Study Tips

While 能 (néng) is often introduced in HSK Level 3 due to its role in expressing ability, 能不能 is a useful phrase for learners to know as it expands on that concept. Students should practice using this phrase in various contexts to enhance conversational skills.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mix up the order, saying '不能能' instead of '能不能'. Additionally, some may forget to use a polite tone, making the request sound too blunt.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 能不能

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 能不能 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Component Characters

能néngto be able to
HSK 110 strokes⺼
View full entry
不bù(negative prefix)
HSK 14 strokes一
View full entry
能néngto be able to
HSK 110 strokes⺼
View full entry

How to say can or cannot in Chinese

“can or cannot” in Chinese is能不能néngbùnéng

能不能 (néng bù néng) translates to 'can or cannot' and is commonly used to ask for permission or to inquire about someone's ability to do something. It is often used in casual conversations to seek confirmation or to make requests in a polite way.

When to use 能不能

Be mindful of tone when using 能不能, as it can sound demanding if not phrased politely. Common collocations include '能不能帮我' (can you help me) or '这件事情能不能解决' (can this issue be resolved). It is typically considered informal.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mix up the order, saying '不能能' instead of '能不能'. Additionally, some may forget to use a polite tone, making the request sound too blunt.

Write 能不能

能
不
能

Practice writing 能不能 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Frequently Asked Questions about 能不能

You can use it to ask for permission, like '你能不能帮我?' (Can you help me?).

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 能不能?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.