能不能

• Pinyin: néng bu néng
• Hanzi breakdown: 能 = 厶 + 月 (flesh) + 匕, originally a bear, later meaning ability; 不 = a bird flying up and being blocked, meaning not; 能 repeated for A-not-A question pattern

Meaning

Can or cannot; whether one can. An A-not-A question form used to politely ask about ability or permission.

The standard way to form a polite yes-or-no question about ability or permission. Softer and more polite than a direct command. Used constantly in daily conversation: 你能不能帮我？(Can you help me?) is much gentler than 帮我！(Help me!). Also used in indirect questions: 我想知道你能不能来 (I want to know if you can come).

Examples

1. 你能不能帮我搬一下这个箱子？ Can you help me move this box?
2. 我想问一下，明天能不能请假？ I'd like to ask — can I take the day off tomorrow?
3. 你能不能说慢一点？我听不懂。 Can you speak a bit slower? I can't understand.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, requests, conversation

Tone: polite

Do Say

• 你能不能等我五分钟？(Can you wait for me for five minutes?)
• 能不能便宜一点？(Can you make it a bit cheaper?)

Don't Say

• 他能不能很高。(Don't use 能不能 with adjectives describing permanent traits — 能不能 asks about ability or permission, not attributes. Say 他是不是很高.)

Origin & History

Formed by the A-not-A pattern: 能 (can) + 不 (not) + 能 (can), a fundamental Chinese grammar structure for forming yes-or-no questions.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal