会、能、可以

Hanzi Tools · Learning guide · Updated 6 November 2026

会 often describes learned skill or a prediction. 能 often describes ability or circumstances. 可以 often expresses permission or acceptability. Their uses overlap, so a single English gloss is not enough.

Compare the examples

我会游泳。

I know how to swim.

我今天不能去。

I cannot go today.

这里可以拍照吗？

Is photography allowed here?

Try it yourself

Which asks for permission?

1. 这里可以拍照吗？
2. 我会游泳吗？

Practise in context

Write a sentence about something that happened to you, using this pattern. Keep the first version short so you can check the word order. Then change one part, such as the time, person or object, and compare what the new sentence means.

Use the grammar exercises for another comparison. You can paste your example into the Chinese reader to check words and pinyin. An automatic reading is a reference; it cannot settle every question of meaning or naturalness.