Expressing a learned skill with "hui"

The verb 会 (huì) can be used to express ability that has been learned, i.e. a skill. In this case 会 is an auxiliary verb.

Structure

The basic structure for 会 is:

Subject + 会 + Verb + Object

This structure is the easiest way to express all kinds of skills, from languages, to sports to skills in daily life such as cooking and driving.

Some examples:

• 他 会 说 中文。He can speak Chinese.
• 我 会 开车。I can drive.
• 我 会 做 好吃的 菜。I can make delicious food.
• 她 会 踢 足球。She can play soccer.

Negating 会 sentences

会 sentences are negated with 不, which is inserted in front of 会:

Subject + 不 + 会 + Verb + Object

Again, this is the simplest way to express the lack of a learned ability. Some examples:

• 我 不 会 做饭。I can't cook.
• 我们 不 会 说 德语。We can't speak German.
• 他 不 会 拉 小提琴。He can't play the violin.

Note that if we say 我不能说德语 the speaker is saying that he can't speak German for some reason other than his own ability, perhaps because speaking German in Chinese class is forbidden.

太会...了

“太会...了”通常用来表示一个人非常精通或者擅长某一方面，甚至跟有些词语一起产生了新的意思，比如“会说话”“会吃”“会享受”等。 The phrase "太会...了" is often used to express that a person is proficient (or at least very good at) something. It can even be used together with other words, giving new meanings, such as "会说话","会吃","会享受", etc.

Subject + 太 会 + Verb + Object + 了

Some examples:

• 这 个 女人 太 会 说话 了。This girl can really talk.
• 我们都觉得中国人太 会 吃 了，每种菜至少有十种做法。We all think that Chinese people can really eat. Every type of food has at least ten ways of preparing it.
• 前台 太会 处理 人际 关系 了。The front desk really knows how to deal with people.
• 你 也 太 会 骗 人 了 吧？！You're also really good at deceiving people?!

Likewise, if you want to negate the sentiment, all you need to do is add a "不" before "会", meaning "Not so skilled at..." When his is the case, you don't need to use "了". Some examples:

Subject + 不 太 会 + Verb + Object

Some examples:

• 这 个 女人 不 太 会 说话。This girl isn't much of a talker.
• 前台 不 太 会 处理 人际 关系。The front desk isn't very good at dealing with people.
• 你 不 太 会 骗 人 了 吧？！You aren't good at deceiving people?

See also

• Expressing ability or possibility

Sources and further reading

Books

• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 219-20) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1) (pp. 160-1, 200) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed) (pp. 185-7, 228) →buy