Chinese grammar - To be unable' using 不可以 (bù kěyǐ) and 不/能 (bù néng)

To be unable' using 不可以 (bù kěyǐ) and 不/能 (bù néng)

The Chinese verbs 不可以 (bù kéyǐ) and 不/能 (bù néng) both mean 'to be unable to' or 'cannot'.

However, the emphasis is different:

• 不可以 (bù kéyǐ) is where the emphasis is on lack of permission.

• 不/能 (bù néng) is used for incapacity due to some physical or other limitation.

Examples:
	她不能吃花生。 tā bù néng chī huāshēng. She cannot eat peanuts because they make her sick. Physically unable so use 不能花生 (huāshēng) means 'peanut'
	这里不可以拍照。 zhèlǐ bù kéyǐ pāizhào. You are not allowed to take photos here. Not permitted so use 不可以
	你不可以用我的电脑。 nǐ bù kéyǐ yòng wǒ de diànnǎo. You are not allowed to use my computer. No given permission so use 不可以
	他不能喝酒。 tā bù néng hē jiǔ. He cannot drink alcohol. Unable because it makes him sick so use 不能
	我不能拍照。 wǒ bù néng pāizhào. I can't take photos. Unable because the camera is broken, so use 不能
	你不能迟到。 nǐ bù néng chídào. You cannot be late. Not about permission, so use 不能迟到 (chídào) means 'be late'
	这里不可以抽烟。 zhèlǐ bù kéyǐ chōuyān. Smoking is not allowed here. Not permitted so use 不可以抽烟 (chōuyān) means 'to smoke (cigarettes)'
	这里不可以停车。 zhèlǐ bù kéyǐ tíngchē. Parking is not allowed here. Not permitted so use 不可以停车 (tíngchē) means 'to park (a car)'
	他不能游泳。 tā bù néng yóuyǒng. He cannot swim. Doesn't know how, so use 不能
	你在课堂上不可以用手机。 nǐ zài kètáng shàng bù kéyǐ yòng shǒujī. You are not allowed to use your phone in class. Not permitted so use 不可以课堂 (kètáng) means 'classroom'
	她不能吃辣的食物。 tā bù néng chī là de shíwù. She cannot eat spicy food. She can't handle the spice so use 不能辣 (là) means 'spicy' 食物 (shíwù) means 'food'
	她不能走路。 tā bù néng zǒulù. She cannot walk. Physically unable so use 不能
	我不能在那里停车。 wǒ bù néng zài nàlǐ tíngchē. I cannot park there. Unable because the space is too narrow so use 不能