To gather, assemble, or join together.
To meet, know how to, be able to, or will; a meeting or gathering. A person (人) above a speech cloud (云): people coming together to talk.
会
Common Usage & Traps
- 开会 — to have a meeting
- 会说话 — can speak; knows how to talk
- 不会 — cannot; do not know how to
- 学会 — to learn how to
- 一会儿 — a little while; in a moment
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我会中文我会说中文会 meaning 'know how to' normally needs a verb after it. To say you can speak a language, use 会说, not 会 directly before the language.
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我会去开会了我去开会了会 is not used for completed past actions. For something that already happened, use 了 without 会.
What is the difference between 会 and 能 when both mean 'can'?
会 means you have learned a skill; 能 means you have the ability or permission in a situation.
Use 会 for things you have learned to do, like speaking a language, swimming, or driving. Use 能 for physical ability, possibility, or permission at a particular moment. If you learned it, use 会. If circumstances allow it, use 能.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Learned skill | 我会说中文。 | 我能说中文。 (sounds like ability in a situation, not learned skill) |
| Permission or possibility | 今天能去开会吗？ | 今天会去开会吗？ (asks about future willingness, not permission) |
| Physical ability | 他能跑十公里。 | 他会跑十公里。 (sounds like he knows how to run, not that he is able to run that far) |
Why do Chinese people say 开会 instead of just 会 for 'meeting'?
会 alone usually means 'can' or 'know how to'; for a meeting, use the full phrase 开会.
In modern Chinese, 会 is rarely used alone as a noun for 'meeting'. The common everyday phrase is 开会, which literally means 'open a meeting'. If you just say 会, people will usually understand it as the auxiliary verb 'can' or 'know how to'.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Having a meeting | 我们下午开会。 | 我们下午会。 (sounds incomplete and confusing) |
| Talking about a meeting | 这个会很重要。 | 这个开会很重要。 (开会 is a verb phrase, not a noun) |
| Asking about ability | 你会开车吗？ | 你开会开车吗？ (mixes meeting with driving ability) |
Appears in Stories 14 stories
Think instant noodles are unhealthy? This HSK 6 article challenges common myths and reveals surprising facts about nutrition, oil, and salt in this convenient food.
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今天我们就来为方便面说两句话——方便面真的是被大家 误会 了。
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误会 一：方便面有毒很多人想当然认为，方便面保质期很长， 不会 坏，原因一定是因为里面“有东西”，有毒！
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就是说方便面里面基本没有水，所以就算在里面什么“东西”也不加，它也 不会 长毛变坏。
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误会 二：方便面没有什么营养事实上，除了刚出生的小宝宝可以只吃一种食物获得全部营养以外，没有任何人可以从单一一种食物中获得全部的营养。
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误会 三：含油量不利于健康我国一般著名品牌的油炸方便面的含油率为18%至20%，与国际上基本相同。
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由于油炸温度低、时间短，不仅棕榈油 不会 被“炸坏”，而且方便面中的营养成分损失也比较少。
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误会 四：方便面咸关于盐，说实话，方便面里面的盐并不多，含盐率仅为1.6%至2%。
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有人干吃方便面，也 不会 觉得咸。
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而当人们用开水泡面的时候，如果不另外加盐，还 会 觉得淡。
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所以，说方便面里盐太多，也是 误会 。
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当然，就算是没有 误会 ，方便面也不好多吃。
Why would a millionaire leave a table of lobster and wagyu untouched? This story explores the hidden rules of business dining and the true cost of staying alert.
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服务员过来要撤，他说，放着吧， 等会儿 还喝。
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从那以后他才 学会 了，饭桌上吃得越少，别人越拿不准你，越拿不准就越不敢动你。
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车里安静了 一小会儿 。
Join a beginner as they ask a Chinese friend to teach them how to cook. This simple HSK 1 dialogue shows that learning one dish at a time is the best way to start.
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她很 会 做饭。
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小米说，我再问你一个问题，你现在 会 做什么菜呢？
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我说，我什么菜都 不会 做。
Learn the fascinating story behind the Chinese idiom '东山再起' (Dongshan Zaiji), which means to make a comeback. Discover its historical roots and modern usage.
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这个成语人人 都会 用，但是“东山”是什么意思，好多人不知道。
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但谢安不想做官，多次拒绝了朝廷的邀请，就住在 会稽 的东山（今天的浙江省 会稽山 ），和朋友一起游玩。
Read about a work trip to Beijing where a group of colleagues takes a very large airplane. Practice weather words and actions in a simple travel story.
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上个星期，我们公司的六个人去北京 开会 。
In this funny HSK 2 story, a boy asks his father for money every day. When his father tries to teach him a lesson, the boy's clever reply will make you laugh.
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哪个大孩子 会 这样做呢？
This playful poem will make you smile as you explore how Chinese words like 'computer' and 'phone' can be funnier than they seem. Get ready to enjoy simple HSK 1 vocabulary and a twist of logic!
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手机在手中，飞机真 会 飞。
In this dialogue, two people chat while waiting outside a cinema. You'll hear common phrases for talking about hobbies, sports, and movie preferences.
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我有时 会 去游泳。
Meet Dr. Mi, a doctor and teacher at Sichuan University. This simple HSK 1 story shows his daily routine from morning to night, helping you learn time expressions and everyday activities.
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吃了晚饭后，他 会 喝一杯普洱茶。
This simple HSK 2 story introduces a warm family of six. Follow Little Bao and his British wife as they raise their two green-eyed children, each with their own personality.
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弟弟太小，也不喜欢画画儿， 一会儿 跳上跳下， 一会儿 跑来跑去。
This heartwarming story reveals the quiet devotion of a father. As you read, notice the repeated actions and how a simple cup of tea becomes meaningful.
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我天天坐在这儿看外边，觉得我儿子还 会 回来。”
Is four years to reach HSK 5 fast or slow? Follow a conversation between two learners as they compare study hours and share realistic strategies for busy adults.
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我有很多汉字 会 认，但是 不会 写。
Enjoy this simple story about a patient and a mysterious apple. It shows how a small act of kindness can make someone feel at home, and you'll learn key words for feelings and daily life.
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天天下午，桌子上都 会 多出一个很大的苹果。
Meet Xiao Shang, who is heading back to Shanghai. She compares two ways to travel and tells us why she prefers the slower one. This story helps you practice comparing transportation in simple Chinese.
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但是她可能 会 坐火车回上海。
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