What is the difference between 会 and 能 and 可以?
All three translate as "can". 会 is a skill you have learned (我会说汉语, 我会游泳) and also "will probably" (明天会下雨). 能 is ability or capacity, or whether circumstances allow it (我能游一千米, 今天我不能来). 可以 is permission or "it is possible / OK to" (这里可以拍照吗？). In questions asking for permission, 可以 and 能 overlap: 我能进来吗 and 我可以进来吗 are both fine.
| 会 | learned skill: 会开车; likelihood: 明天会下雨 |
|---|---|
| 能 | ability, capacity, circumstances: 能吃三碗饭, 今天不能去 |
| 可以 | permission, it is OK to: 可以坐这儿吗？ |
会 huì
From the readings on this site
- 我妈妈很会做菜。My mom is a wonderful cook.HSK 1 · 妈妈做的菜
- 我会说一点儿汉语。I can speak a little Chinese.HSK 1 · 我会说汉语
- 你会写汉语的数字吗？Can you write numbers in Chinese?HSK 1 · 数字真有趣
能 néng
From the readings on this site
- 中午下雨了，我不能去商店了。At noon it started to rain, so I couldn't go to the shop anymore.HSK 1 · 下雨了
- 电影里的人说汉语，我能听一点儿！The people in the movie spoke Chinese, and I could catch a little of it!HSK 1 · 看电影
- 老师说：“你多写，字能很漂亮。”The teacher says, "Write more, and your characters can be very pretty."HSK 1 · 写汉字
可以 kěyǐ
From the readings on this site
- 我说：“都可以，我不挑食。”I said: "Either is fine, I'm not picky about food."HSK 2 · 和同事吃午饭
- 服务员说：“可以，便宜五块。”The clerk says: "Sure, five kuai cheaper."HSK 2 · 有点儿
- 我觉得，便宜的东西也可以很漂亮。I think cheap things can be pretty too.HSK 2 · 便宜还是贵