会 (huì) for ability and possibility
Reach for 会 when the ability is learned, not innate — something the subject was taught, practiced, or developed over time. Driving, speaking a language, swimming, cooking all take 会. It also handles the softer 'likely to / will probably' sense, like predicting weather or behavior. The fixed split with 能: 会 is about acquired skill or general possibility; 能 is about being physically/situationally able to do it right now.
Structure
[SUBJECT] 会 [VERB/VERB PHRASE]
[SUBJECT] huì [VERB]
How to Think About It
会 means 'has the skill turned on inside.' A baby doesn't 会说话 yet; an adult who studied Chinese 会说中文. For predictions, the same idea: the world has internalized a tendency, so the outcome 'knows how' to happen — 明天会下雨, rain is built into tomorrow.
Examples
我会说一点儿中文。
Wǒ huì shuō yìdiǎnr Zhōngwén.
I can speak a little Chinese.
他不会开车。
Tā bú huì kāichē.
He can't drive.
明天会下雨吗？
Míngtiān huì xià yǔ ma?
Will it rain tomorrow?
Common Mistake
B1 learners use 能 for learned skills because English 'can' covers everything. 'I can speak Chinese' becomes 我能说中文 — but that sounds like 'I'm permitted to' or 'the room is quiet enough for me to.' Learned ability needs 会.
我学了三年中文，我能说中文。
我学了三年中文，我会说中文。
Don't Confuse With
能 + Verb
Use 能 for physical capacity or permission in the moment ('I can lift this box', 'I can come tomorrow'), not for a skill you trained.
可以 + Verb
可以 is permission or general possibility ('you may', 'it's okay to'), never trained skill.
会 (future marker)
Same character, but here 会 marks prediction — 明天会冷. Context tells you whether it's skill or forecast.
Practice
Fill in the blank: 我姐姐___做中国菜。 (My older sister can cook Chinese food.)
Show answer
会
Fill in the blank: 他不___游泳。 (He can't swim.)
Show answer
会
Arrange: 中文 / 会 / 一点儿 / 我 / 说
Show answer
我会说一点儿中文。
Translate to Chinese: She can play the piano, but she can't sing.
Show answer
她会弹钢琴，但是她不会唱歌。
Write one sentence about a skill you have and one about a skill you don't have, using 会 and 不会.
Show answer
我会做意大利面，但是我不会做日本菜。
Hear It in Real Episodes
This pattern appears in 1 Fluentide episode:
Related Grammar Patterns
Acquire by listening
Hear 会 (huì) for ability and possibility in real Chinese, not in a textbook.
Fluentide picks the next news episode at your level, so this pattern shows up again and again in real context. The transcript marks it, the audio drills it. Free to start, no card.