能否

• Pinyin: néng fǒu
• Hanzi breakdown: 能 = ability/can; 否 = not/negative/whether. Whether able or not.

Meaning

Whether or not; can or cannot; if possible.

Formal way to express 'whether one can' or to make polite requests. More formal than 能不能. Often used in written Chinese, formal speech, or polite inquiries. Structure: 能否 + verb phrase.

Examples

1. 我想咨询一下，能否预约下周的专家门诊？ I'd like to inquire whether it's possible to book a specialist appointment for next week?
2. 项目能否按时完成，取决于每个人的努力。 Whether the project can be completed on time depends on everyone's effort.
3. 请问能否把这份文件发给我一份？ May I ask if you could send me a copy of this document?

Usage Guide

Context: business, formal requests, writing

Tone: polite

Do Say

• 能否帮个忙？(Could you do me a favor?)
• 能否告诉我原因？(Could you tell me the reason?)

Don't Say

• 在很随意的对话中用能否 (Too formal for casual chat — use 能不能 instead)

Origin & History

Compound of 能 (can/able) + 否 (not/whether). Expressing the question of ability.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal