Chinese Conversation · Level 10
90 words
Chinese word
不会
Pronunciation
Pinyinbù huì
Meaning
- auxiliary verbcan't
Example
我不会打篮球。wǒ bú huì dǎ lán qiú
I can't play basketball.
More examples
她不会做饭。tā bú huì zuò fàn
She can't cook.
Core concept
A person lacks the know-how or usual readiness needed to carry out an action.
Common phrases
不会做饭bú huì zuò fàn
can't cook
不会开车bú huì kāi chē
can't drive
不会游泳bú huì yóu yǒng
can't swim
Similar words
不能bù néng: Be unable to do something because the situation or conditions do not allow it.
不行bù xíng: Show that a suggested action or method is unacceptable or will not work.
没办法méi bàn fǎ: Have no way or means to deal with a situation.
Definition in Chinese
作为助动词，用来否定主语的能力、技能或习惯性行为，表示某人不会做某事或不具备相应的知识或习惯。zuò wéi zhù dòng cí yòng lái fǒu dìng zhú yǔ de néng lì jì néng huò xí guàn xìng xíng wèi biǎo shì mǒu rén bú huì zuò mǒu shì huò bú jù bèi xiāng yìng de zhī shí huò xí guàn
Word origin
不会 (bùhuì, "not know how to") combines 不 (bù, "not") with 会 (huì, "know how to or be able to") to mark the absence of an ability or established action.
Usage tips
- For English-speaking children, the key distinction is that this form usually concerns a learned skill or a regular action, while the situation can make it express refusal instead.