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能够

néng gòu
HSK 3.0 Level 4 Verb Very common

Definitions

  1. 1. to be capable of
  2. 2. to be able to
  3. 3. can

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Word relationships

Antonyms

1 item
不能
bù néng

cannot

Opposite of 'be able to'.

Synonyms

2 items
可以
kě yǐ

can

Both indicate ability, but 可以 can also express permission, while 能够 emphasizes capability.
能
néng

can

Both mean 'can' or 'be able to'; 能够 is more formal and often interchangeable.

Usage notes

Collocations

Often used in formal contexts to emphasize capability; less common in casual speech than 能 or 可以.

Common mistakes

Don't use 能够 for permission; use 可以 instead. For ability, 能够 implies a higher degree of capability.

Example Sentences

1 shown
他 能够 用汉语聊天。
He is able to chat in Chinese.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Words Containing 能够

巴不能够
bā bù néng gòu

avid

Child Words of 能够

够
gòu

enough (sufficient)

能
néng

can