能否
HSK 4 (exam 2025)
能否 (néngfǒu) · whether or not
能否 (néngfǒu) means “whether or not; can or cannot”. It is written with 2 characters: 能 (can) + 否 (no). It is an HSK 4 word in the current exam syllabus (2025).
How 能否 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)
否 fǒu · no
What 否 is made of
- 不bù — no
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 口kǒu — mouth
- 冂 — frame
- 丨 — vertical stroke
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 冂 — frame
Origin hint: 不 gives the meaning, 口 gives the sound. (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
Example sentences
请问能否帮我一下？Qǐngwèn néngfǒu bāng wǒ yíxià?Excuse me, could you help me?
明天能否下雨还不知道。Míngtiān néngfǒu xià yǔ hái bù zhīdào.We don't know yet whether it will rain tomorrow.
Questions about 能否
What does 能否 mean?
能否 (néngfǒu) means “whether or not; can or cannot”.
How do you pronounce 能否?
能否 is pronounced néngfǒu.
Which HSK level is 能否?
能否 is in HSK 4 (exam 2025).
Related words
- 可能kěnéngmaybe
- 能够nénggòucan
- 只能zhǐnéngcan only
- 才能cáinéngtalent
- 功能gōngnéngfunction
- 能不能néng bu néngcan or not
- 能力nénglìability
- 能干nénggàncapable
- 智能zhìnéngsmart
- 能源néngyuánenergy
Learn 能否 with its group
It is part of HSK 4 · Group 54: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.