<p>I would say 能, as a single character, carries more meanings than 能够. </p>

<ol>
<li>能 could be short for 能够, meaning able to do or achieve something.</li>
<li>能 could be used as an intensifier and often used with 真，很 and etc. For example, 真能干！</li>
<li>能 could mean 'could' or 'would'， like 会. For example, 他能去哪儿？==他会去哪儿？</li>
<li>能 could mean 才能. For example, 逞能，各尽其能, etc. </li>
<li>能 could mean 能量. For example, 电能，光能， etc.</li>
</ol>

<p>Sometimes, it relies on the context to determine whether the speaker refers to meaning 1 or 2. For example, 他能吃 could mean either 'he could eat it as his food' or 'he could eat a lot of it'. The former is the same as 他能够吃, and the latter is the same as 他真（/很）能吃. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-10T01:27:00.647Z
2017-10-10T01:27:00.647Z
dan
<p>Both "能" and "能够" means the capability of doing things. I would say there's <strong>nearly no difference between "能"&amp;"能够", except under some circumstances.</strong> </p>

<p>For example, when one surprisedly said "他(很)能吃啊！"， it doesn't mean "he is able to eat", but indicate "he eats a lot!/ have a great appetite". </p>

<p><strong>You need to get the true meaning with the scenario/context.</strong></p>

<p>To @TangHo
And for me, there is no difference between "三英寸的水能淹死一個"人 &amp; "三英寸的水能够淹死一個人", "一百萬美元能够買一個人的原則" and "一百萬美元能買一個人的原則". <strong>In these cases (be enough to) equals to (is capable of)</strong>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-09T14:07:31.013Z
2017-10-09T14:07:31.013Z
Kevman
<p>Both 能 and 能够 mean 'can/ able to'</p>

<p>Subtle difference:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>能 mostly refer to 有能力 (capable/ able)</p></li>
<li><p>够 in 能够 carries the additional meaning of '足夠' (enough to)</p></li>
</ul>

<p>Example:</p>

<p>"Three inch of water can (is capable of) drown a person" 三英寸的水能淹死一個人 </p>

<p>"Three inch of water can (be enough to) drown a person" 三英寸的水能够淹死一個人 </p>

<p>"one dollar can (is able to) buy one Doughnut" 一美元能買一個甜甜圈</p>

<p>"one million dollar can (be enough to) buy a persons principle" 一百萬美元能够買一個人的原則</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-09T11:22:42.270Z
2017-10-09T11:34:43.920Z
2017-10-09T11:34:43.920Z
Tang Ho
<p>I understand there is a difference between 可以, 能, and 会 in Mandarin. But is there any difference between 能 and 能够?</p>

<p>Also, is there any case where one word can be used but the other cannot?</p>

<p>At least I just got to know that 能够 cannot take a one-syllable verb (while 能 can). So it is not correct to say <code>她能够吃</code>, but is there any other difference?</p>

<word-choice>
What is the difference between 能 and 能够?
# What is the difference between 能 and 能够?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-10-09)

I understand there is a difference between 可以, 能, and 会 in Mandarin. But is there any difference between 能 and 能够?

Also, is there any case where one word can be used but the other cannot?

At least I just got to know that 能够 cannot take a one-syllable verb (while 能 can). So it is not correct to say `她能够吃`, but is there any other difference?

**Tags:** word-choice


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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2017-10-09. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

Both 能 and 能够 mean 'can/ able to'

Subtle difference:

* 能 mostly refer to 有能力 (capable/ able)
* 够 in 能够 carries the additional meaning of '足夠' (enough to)

Example:

"Three inch of water can (is capable of) drown a person" 三英寸的水能淹死一個人

"Three inch of water can (be enough to) drown a person" 三英寸的水能够淹死一個人

"one dollar can (is able to) buy one Doughnut" 一美元能買一個甜甜圈

"one million dollar can (be enough to) buy a persons principle" 一百萬美元能够買一個人的原則


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### Answer by username_1 on 2017-10-10. Score: 1

I would say 能, as a single character, carries more meanings than 能够.

1. 能 could be short for 能够, meaning able to do or achieve something.
2. 能 could be used as an intensifier and often used with 真，很 and etc. For example, 真能干！
3. 能 could mean 'could' or 'would'， like 会. For example, 他能去哪儿？==他会去哪儿？
4. 能 could mean 才能. For example, 逞能，各尽其能, etc.
5. 能 could mean 能量. For example, 电能，光能， etc.

Sometimes, it relies on the context to determine whether the speaker refers to meaning 1 or 2. For example, 他能吃 could mean either 'he could eat it as his food' or 'he could eat a lot of it'. The former is the same as 他能够吃, and the latter is the same as 他真（/很）能吃.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2017-10-09. Score: 1

Both "能" and "能够" means the capability of doing things. I would say there's **nearly no difference between "能"&"能够", except under some circumstances.**

For example, when one surprisedly said "他(很)能吃啊！"， it doesn't mean "he is able to eat", but indicate "he eats a lot!/ have a great appetite".

**You need to get the true meaning with the scenario/context.**

To @TangHo
And for me, there is no difference between "三英寸的水能淹死一個"人 & "三英寸的水能够淹死一個人", "一百萬美元能够買一個人的原則" and "一百萬美元能買一個人的原則". **In these cases (be enough to) equals to (is capable of)**.


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