会 (huì) — can (learned) / will / be good at | Chinese (Mandarin) Grammar

会 (huì) is one of three Chinese words that all translate as English "can," and the single biggest reason "can" is hard for learners is that Chinese splits the job three ways. 会 owns two of the meanings a native speaker reaches for constantly: know how to (a skill you've learned) and will / be likely to (a prediction about the future). It also lives a second life as an ordinary noun meaning "meeting." What 会 does not cover is permission or a one-off physical possibility — those belong to 能 and 可以. Keep the skill-vs-prediction split in mind and 会 becomes predictable.

Sense 1: can / know how to (a learned skill)

This is 会 marking an ability you acquired through learning or practice — languages, driving, swimming, cooking, an instrument. The test: could someone be taught to do it? If yes, it's 会.

我会说一点儿中文。

wǒ huì shuō yìdiǎnr Zhōngwén

I can speak a little Chinese. — a learned skill, so 会.

你会开车吗？

nǐ huì kāi chē ma

Can you drive? — asking about a skill, not permission.

他三岁就会自己穿衣服了。

tā sān suì jiù huì zìjǐ chuān yīfu le

He could dress himself at three. — 会 for an acquired ability.

Sense 2: will / be likely to (a prediction)

Here 会 is not about ability at all — it forecasts that something is going to happen or is likely to be true. This is where 会 overlaps least with English "can" and most with "will / would." Native speakers very often wrap the prediction in the 会…的 frame, where a sentence-final 的 adds a note of confidence or reassurance.

天气预报说明天会下雨。

tiānqì yùbào shuō míngtiān huì xià yǔ

The forecast says it'll rain tomorrow. — prediction, not ability.

别担心，他不会生气的。

bié dānxīn, tā bú huì shēngqì de

Don't worry, he won't get mad. — 会…的 frame, negated with 不会.

放心，我会照顾好她的。

fàngxīn, wǒ huì zhàogù hǎo tā de

Rest assured, I'll take good care of her. — 会…的 as a personal commitment.

💡

The 会…的 frame is the natural way to soften and reassure. Bare 我照顾她 states a fact; 我会照顾好她的 sounds like a promise. Reach for 会…的 whenever you'd say "it'll be fine, I will…" in English.

Sense 3: be good at (很会 + verb)

Put 很 (or 真, 太) in front and 会 shifts from "can" to "is really good at / has a knack for." 很会说话 doesn't mean "can talk" — it means someone is smooth, tactful, persuasive.

她很会说话，大家都喜欢她。

tā hěn huì shuō huà, dàjiā dōu xǐhuan tā

She really knows how to talk to people — everyone likes her.

你真会做生意。

nǐ zhēn huì zuò shēngyì

You've really got a head for business.

As a noun: meeting / gathering

Separately from the modal, 会 is a common noun meaning "meeting." You'll meet it most in 开会 ("hold / attend a meeting") and in 一会儿 (yíhuìr, "a little while" — the same character, a different everyday word).

老板正在开会，你等一下再打给他。

lǎobǎn zhèngzài kāi huì, nǐ děng yíxià zài dǎ gěi tā

The boss is in a meeting — call him back in a bit.

你等我一会儿，我马上就来。

nǐ děng wǒ yíhuìr, wǒ mǎshàng jiù lái

Wait for me a moment — I'll be right there.

Key collocations

Phrase	Pinyin	Meaning
会说中文	huì shuō Zhōngwén	can speak Chinese
会开车	huì kāi chē	can drive
不会…的	bú huì … de	won't / is not going to (reassurance)
会…的	huì … de	will / is bound to
很会	hěn huì	be good at, have a knack for
开会	kāi huì	hold / attend a meeting
一会儿	yíhuìr	a little while, a moment
会面	huìmiàn	meet, have a meeting (formal)

Grammar notes

Negate 会 with 不 (never 没): 不会 covers both "don't know how to" (我不会游泳, "I can't swim") and "won't / is unlikely to" (不会下雨, "it won't rain"). Form yes-no questions with 会不会 or …会…吗: 你会不会做饭？= 你会做饭吗？("Can you cook?"). For predictions, 会…的 (see the certainty 会…的 page) is the idiomatic wrapper. The broader modal system is laid out on the modal verbs overview and the learned-ability sense specifically on 会 (learned ability).

One trap for the ear: 会 (huì, 4th tone) is a near-homophone of 回 (huí, 2nd tone) "to return." 回家 is "go home," not 会家 — see 回 (return).

Watch out for near-synonyms

The three-way "can" split is the whole ballgame: 会 = learned skill / prediction, 能 (néng) = capacity or circumstance right now, 可以 (kěyǐ) = permission. "Can you swim?" as do you know how is 你会游泳吗; as are you up to it today (not injured, water's calm) it's 你能游泳吗. The full contrast, with a decision guide, is on 会 vs 能 vs 可以 and 会/能/可以 contrast. For the "will" sense, compare the wanting/planning verbs on 想 vs 要 vs 会.

Common Mistakes

1. Using 会 for a one-off circumstance instead of 能. 不会 predicts; it doesn't report inability due to a situation.

❌ 我发烧了，明天不会来上班。

Off — 不会来 says 'I probably won't come'; for being unable to come, use 不能来 / 来不了.

✅ 我发烧了，明天不能来上班。

wǒ fāshāo le, míngtiān bù néng lái shàngbān

I've got a fever — I can't come to work tomorrow.

2. Using 会 to ask permission. Permission is 可以 / 能.

❌ 我会用一下你的电话吗？

Incorrect — 会 asks about skill; for permission use 可以 / 能.

✅ 我可以用一下你的电话吗？

wǒ kěyǐ yòng yíxià nǐ de diànhuà ma

Can I use your phone for a sec?

3. Reaching for 将 in casual speech. 将 (jiāng) is the literary "will"; conversation uses 会.

❌ 我明天将给你回复。

Too bookish — 将 is (literary). In speech: 我明天会给你回复的。

✅ 我明天会给你回复的。

wǒ míngtiān huì gěi nǐ huífù de

I'll get back to you tomorrow.

4. Writing 会 (huì) for 回 (huí) 'return'. Same sound to a beginner's ear, different character.

❌ 时间不早了，我该会家了。

Wrong character — 'go home' is 回家 (huí), not 会家 (huì).

✅ 时间不早了，我该回家了。

shíjiān bù zǎo le, wǒ gāi huí jiā le

It's getting late — I should head home.

Key Takeaways

会 = learned skill (会说中文, 会开车) — could you be taught it? Then it's 会.
会 = prediction ("will / likely"), most naturally in the 会…的 frame (他不会来的).
很会 = be good at / have a knack for (很会说话).
The noun 会 = meeting: 开会 "have a meeting," 一会儿 "a moment."
会 is not permission or one-off capacity — those are 可以 and 能. Negate with 不会, never 没会.
Don't confuse 会 (huì) with 回 (huí, "return"): 回家, not 会家.

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