能不能
HSK 3 (2021)
能不能 (néng bu néng) · can or not
能不能 (néng bu néng) means “can or not; whether (one) can”. It is written with 2 characters: 能 (can) + 不 (not). It is an HSK 3 word in the 2021 standard.
How 能不能 is built
The characters
能 néng · can
What 能 is made of
- 厶sī — private
- ⺼ — meat
- 匕bǐ — spoon
- 乚 — hook stroke
- 丿 — falling stroke
- 匕bǐ — spoon
- 乚 — hook stroke
- 丿 — falling stroke
Origin hint: A bear's head 厶, body ⺼, and claws 匕 (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
不 bù · not
What 不 is made of
- 一 — horizontal stroke
Origin hint: A bird flying toward the sky 一 (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
Example sentences
你能不能帮我一下？Nǐ néng bu néng bāng wǒ yīxià?Can you help me for a moment?
我不知道明天能不能去。Wǒ bù zhīdào míngtiān néng bu néng qù.I don't know whether I can go tomorrow.
Questions about 能不能
What does 能不能 mean?
能不能 (néng bu néng) means “can or not; whether (one) can”.
How do you pronounce 能不能?
能不能 is pronounced néng bu néng.
Which HSK level is 能不能?
能不能 is in HSK 3 (2021).
Related words
- 可能kěnéngmaybe
- 能够nénggòucan
- 只能zhǐnéngcan only
- 才能cáinéngtalent
- 功能gōngnéngfunction
- 能力nénglìability
- 能干nénggàncapable
- 智能zhìnéngsmart
- 能源néngyuánenergy
- 本能běnnénginstinct
Learn 能不能 with its group
It is part of HSK 3 (2021) · Group 18: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.