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 a car.
• 我 会 做 饭。I can cook food.
• 她 会 做 中国 菜。She can cook Chinese food.
• 我 会 画画。I can paint.
• 我会 游泳。I can swim.
• 我 会 用 电脑。I can use a computer.
• 狗 会 唱 歌 吗？Dog can sing？
• 你 会喝 酒 吗？Can you drink alcohol?
• 你 会 做 三明治 吗？Can you make a sandwich?

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:

• 他 不会 说 中文。He can't speak Chinese.
• 我 不会 开车。I can't drive.
• 我 不会 做 饭。I can't cook food.
• 她 会 做 中国 菜。She can't cook Chinese food.
• 我 不会 画画。I can't paint.
• 我 不会 游泳。I can't swim.
• 我 奶奶 不会 用 电脑。My grandmother can't use a computer.
• 狗 不会 唱 歌。Dog can't sing.
• 你 不会 喝 酒 吗？You can't drink alcohol?
• 你 不会 做 三明治 吗？you can't make a sandwich?

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

See also

• Expressing ability or possibility

Sources and further reading

• 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