Meanings of 会
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About 会
Podcast: 会
Podcast: 会
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AI Study Notes for 会
能 (néng) vs 会 (huì): use 能 for physical or inherent ability, while 会 emphasizes learned skills or acquired abilities.
Be careful not to confuse 会 (huì) with 能 (néng), which also means 'can', but focuses more on capability rather than learned skills. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, so you can use it in casual conversations or official settings.
As an HSK Level 1 word, 会 is foundational for expressing ability and future actions. Students should focus on distinguishing it from similar verbs and practice using it in sentences related to their daily life activities.
Learners often confuse 会 (huì) with 可能 (kěnéng) when expressing possibility. For instance, saying '我会下雨' (Wǒ huì xià yǔ) is incorrect; the correct phrase should be '可能下雨' (kěnéng xià yǔ), meaning 'it might rain'.
Pronunciation of 会
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Etymology of 会
Simplified form of 會. Origin unclear. Possibly related to 合 (together).
People 人 speaking 云
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 会
Simplified form of 會. Origin unclear. Possibly related to 合 (together).
- 1The giveawayPeople 人 speaking 云
- 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 会? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 会?
Decomposition of 会
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 会?
How to say can in Chinese
“can” in Chinese is会
会 (huì) is a versatile verb that means 'to be able to' or 'can', and it is commonly used to express ability or possibility. In addition to its ability-related meanings, it can also refer to gatherings or meetings, as in 'to assemble' or 'to meet'. Its broad usage makes it essential in everyday conversation and various contexts.
When to use 会
Be careful not to confuse 会 (huì) with 能 (néng), which also means 'can', but focuses more on capability rather than learned skills. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, so you can use it in casual conversations or official settings.
会 or something close to it
能 (néng) vs 会 (huì): use 能 for physical or inherent ability, while 会 emphasizes learned skills or acquired abilities.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 会 (huì) with 可能 (kěnéng) when expressing possibility. For instance, saying '我会下雨' (Wǒ huì xià yǔ) is incorrect; the correct phrase should be '可能下雨' (kěnéng xià yǔ), meaning 'it might rain'.
Write 会
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Practice writing 会 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 会
会 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 19 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Complete the Sentence
我不____说中文。
I can't speak Chinese.
Example Sentences for 会 (16)
Word Family of 会
Compound Meaning
What does 绘 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 会
You can say '我会说中文' (Wǒ huì shuō zhōngwén) meaning 'I can speak Chinese'.
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