Chinese word

会

Pronunciation

Pinyinhuì

Meaning

  • auxiliary verbcan

Example

他会开车。tā huì kāi chē

He can drive.

Illustration for 会 (can)

More examples

孩子会唱歌。hái zi huì chàng gē

The child can sing.

Core concept

A point where things come together, whether people meet, practice becomes ability, or conditions make an event likely.

Common phrases

  • 会说汉语huì shuō hàn yǔ

    can speak Chinese

  • 会做饭huì zuò fàn

    can cook

  • 会唱歌huì chàng gē

    can sing

Similar words

能néng: Expresses the ability to do something when physical ability or other conditions make it possible.
可以ké yǐ: Expresses that permission or suitable circumstances make an action possible.

Definition in Chinese

作为助动词，表示习得的能力或一般性的可能性，常用于陈述某人通常能够做某事。zuò wéi zhù dòng cí biǎo shì xí dé de néng lì huò yì bān xìng de kě néng xìng cháng yòng yú chén shù mǒu rén tōng cháng néng gòu zuò mǒu shì

Word origin

会 (huì, "can; meeting") comes from an old character for people or things gathering, and its modal uses later developed ideas of learned ability and expected events.

Usage tips

  • Time words such as tomorrow or every day help show whether the sentence concerns an expected event or a regular ability.

Other meanings

  • willauxiliary verb
  • meetingnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word