v.
To bring people or things together in one place. To know how to do something; can; will happen in the future.
会
n.
A convergence of many people or things at one shared location. A meeting, conference, party, or organized group/association.
Common Usage & Traps
- 会游泳 — know how to swim
- 会说中文 — can speak Chinese
- 会下雨 — will rain
- 会来 — will come
- 会飞 — can fly
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会能游泳会游泳 / 能游泳Pick one. 会游泳 says you learned the skill; 能游泳 says you are able or allowed now.
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会忙会很忙A bare adjective after 会 often sounds unfinished; 很 or a follow-up makes it sound natural.
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我会去北京明天我明天会去北京Time words like 明天 usually go before 会, not tacked on at the end.
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我可以会游泳我会游泳 / 我可以游泳可以 handles permission; 会 handles skill. Stacking them is not how Chinese works.
What is the real difference between 会, 能, and 可以 when English just says 'can'?
会 is learned skill or prediction; 能 is ability or circumstance; 可以 is permission.
Use this anchor: 会 = learned skill or prediction; 能 = physical capability or circumstantial condition; 可以 = permission or polite suggestion. 我会游泳 means I know how to swim. 我今天病了不能游泳 means today I am sick and cannot swim. 这里可以抽烟吗 asks whether smoking is allowed here. If you mean 'know how,' use 会. If you mean 'allowed,' use 可以.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Learned skill | 我会游泳。 | 我可以游泳。 (if you mean skill) |
| Circumstantial ability | 今天发烧，不能游泳。 | 今天发烧，不会游泳。 |
| Permission | 这里可以抽烟吗？ | 这里会抽烟吗？ |
| Prediction | 明天会下雨。 | 明天可以下雨。 |
| Polite suggestion | 你可以早点睡。 | 你会早点睡。 (different meaning) |
How can 会 mean both 'can' and 'will' without changing shape?
会 before a verb shows skill or likelihood; context decides 'can' or 'will'.
With a learned skill, 会 means know how: 我会游泳. With a guess about the future, 会 means likely: 明天会下雨. The verb after 会 stays the same, so the time word and situation do the sorting. 飞机真会飞 uses the 'can' side: flying is what planes do. Do not look for a separate 'will' word every time.
“手机在手中，
飞机真会飞。” (The phone is in your hand, and planes really can fly.)
“手机在手中，
飞机真会飞。” (The phone is in your hand, and planes really can fly.)
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Know how | 我会游泳。 | 我能游泳。 (if you mean learned skill) |
| Future guess | 明天会下雨。 | 明天能下雨。 |
| Inherent ability | 飞机会飞。 | 飞机可以飞。 (sounds like permission or condition) |
| Time order | 我明天会去。 | 我会去明天。 |
When I say 'I will go to Beijing tomorrow,' should I use 会 or 要?
会 predicts or promises; 要 shows plan, intention, or something about to happen.
我明天要去北京 sounds like a plan or decision. 我明天会去北京 sounds like a promise or prediction. 要 can also mean 'about to': 要下雨了 means rain is coming. 会 is safer for forecasts and guesses. Do not use 会 for every English 'will,' especially when you are announcing your own plan.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Plan you control | 我明天要去北京。 | 我明天会去北京。 (if you mean a plan, 会 sounds like a promise or guess) |
| Prediction | 明天会下雨。 | 明天要下雨。 (both can work, but 要 sounds imminent) |
| Imminent action | 要下雨了。 | 会下雨了。 |
| Promise | 我会给你打电话。 | 我要给你打电话。 (often means I want or plan to call) |
Can 会 describe past ability, like 'I could swim when I was a kid'?
Yes, if it is a learned skill: 我小时候会游泳. Use 能 for one-time success.
会 is not a past tense button; time words like 小时候 set the past. 我小时候会游泳 means I had learned how to swim as a kid. If you mean you managed to swim across the river once, use 能: 那天我能游过去. 会 describes the skill itself, not the one-time result.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Learned skill in the past | 我小时候会游泳。 | 我小时候能游泳。 (if you mean skill) |
| One-time success | 那天我能游到对岸。 | 那天我会游到对岸。 |
| Newly learned skill | 我终于会游泳了。 | 我终于能游泳了。 (if you mean mastered it) |
| Negative past skill | 我小时候不会游泳。 | 我小时候不能游泳。 (if you mean never learned) |
If I can't swim, why does 我不会游泳 beat 我不能游泳?
不会游泳 means you lack the skill; 不能游泳 means you're blocked right now.
Use 不会 when you never learned how: 我不会游泳，所以不去深水区. Use 不能 when something stops you: 腿受伤了，不能游泳. Use 不可以 when a rule forbids it: 这里不可以游泳. The negative word changes the reason, not just the grammar.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| No skill | 我不会游泳。 | 我不能游泳。 (if you mean never learned) |
| Physical block | 腿受伤了，不能游泳。 | 腿受伤了，不会游泳。 |
| Rule forbids | 这里不可以游泳。 | 这里不会游泳。 |
| Temporary condition | 今天感冒，不能游泳。 | 今天感冒，不会游泳。 (sounds like lost skill) |
Appears in Stories 10 stories
Real context sentences across different daily scenarios and graded readings.
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？
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。
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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而当人们用开水泡面的时候，如果不另外加盐，还 会 觉得淡。
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。
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？
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。
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。
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。”
Questions & Discussion 0 questions
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