Fluentide
Fluentide for iOS is out — get the app
HSK 1

会

can; to know how to; will

verbneutral1 episode
会
huì4th tone

HSK level

1
2
3
4
5
6
Pinyin
huì
Part of speech
verb
Level
HSK 1
Strokes
6
Register
neutral
In episodes
1

Stroke order for 会

会 is written with 6 strokes. The animation replays automatically.

What does 会 mean?

会 (huì) is one of the most useful Chinese modal verbs, with two HSK 1 meanings.

First, 'to know how to' — a learned skill or ability: 我会说中文 ('I can speak Chinese'), 他会开车 ('he can drive'). Second, 'will / likely to' — future possibility or prediction: 明天会下雨 ('it will rain tomorrow').

Two things matter for English speakers: first, 会 covers only LEARNED abilities — for physical possibility ('I can lift this'), use 能 (néng), and for permission ('you may'), use 可以 (kěyǐ); second, the negative is 不会 (bú huì), 'don't know how' or 'won't.' 会 also appears as a noun meaning 'meeting' (huì) — same character, related to gathering and ability, but the verb usage is what HSK 1 tests.

Note: 会 has two distinct HSK 1 meanings: a learned ability ('know how to') and future probability ('will / likely'). Context tells you which.

Hear 会 in real episodes

会 appears in 1 Fluentide podcast episode at natural native speed — each with the full Chinese script, pinyin, and line-by-line English translation.

The Irishman Who Wrote Songs, Sang, and Won a Big Prize: Glen Hansard Has Died会 spoken at natural speedbeginner
Browse the full episode library

Example sentences

我会说一点中文。

Wǒ huì shuō yìdiǎn Zhōngwén.

I can speak a little Chinese.

spoken

他会开车。

Tā huì kāichē.

He can drive.

neutral

明天会下雨。

Míngtiān huì xià yǔ.

It will rain tomorrow.

neutral

我不会做饭。

Wǒ bú huì zuòfàn.

I don't know how to cook.

spoken

Common phrases with 会

会说huì shuōcan speak (a language)
不会bú huìdon't know how; won't
会开车huì kāichēcan drive
会下雨huì xià yǔwill rain
学会xuéhuìto master / successfully learn

Synonyms

能néng

能 is 'can' for physical ability or circumstances ('I can lift 50kg,' 'I can come tomorrow'). 会 is for LEARNED skills ('I can swim'). 我会游泳 means I learned how; 我能游一公里 means I'm physically able to swim 1km.

可以kěyǐ

可以 is 'may / be permitted to / it's possible.' Used for permission and general possibility. 会 is specifically learned ability or future probability.

Don't confuse 会 with

回huí

回 means 'to return / go back' (回家 'go home'). Different character, different tone (huí vs huì), completely different meaning.

汇huì

汇 means 'to converge / remit' (汇款 'wire money'). Same pinyin as 会 but different character and meaning.

能néng

能 vs 会: both translate as 'can' in English but cover different territory. 会 = learned skill; 能 = physical ability / circumstance.

FAQ

Related words from the same episodes

爱to love唱to sing电影film歌song给to give奖prize / award哭to cry听to listen想to want

Acquire it by listening

Meet 会 again — in real Chinese, at your level.

You just saw 会 in 1 episode. Fluentide keeps feeding you news episodes at your level, so this word — and thousands like it — resurface in real sentences until they stick. Full pinyin and translation every time. Free to start.