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: