能不能

• 拼音: néng bu néng
• 汉字拆解: 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

含义

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).

例句

1. 你能不能帮我搬一下这个箱子？
2. 我想问一下，明天能不能请假？
3. 你能不能说慢一点？我听不懂。

用法指南

语境: daily life, requests, conversation

语气: polite

正确说法

• 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?)

错误说法

• 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.)

起源与历史

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

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal