會/会 huì
会 huì emphasizes a skill that you have learned or been trained to do. It refers to the ability to do something that has been acquired through training or education, and is often used to describe skills, such as speaking a language or playing a musical instrument. It is more like “knowing how to do something.“
我會開車我会开车
I can drive
(I know how to drive.)
我不會說中文我不会说中文
I can’t (don’t) speak Chinese.
(Because I didn’t learn it.)
我不會打籃球我不会打篮球
I don’t know how to play basketball.
那孩子還不會走路那孩子还不会走路
That child still can’t walk.
(Because he is too young to learn how to walk.)
你會不會寫你的中文名字?你会不会写你的中文名字?
Can you write your Chinese name?
他只會抱怨,不會做事他只会抱怨,不会做事
He only knows how to complain and doesn’t know how to get things done.
能 néng and 會/会 huì
Both 能 néng and 会 huì can be used to express “be good at something” in Chinese. When using these terms in this context, it is common to use an adverb before the verb to indicate the degree of proficiency.
我非常能/會吃辣我非常能/会吃辣
I can eat very spicy.
他很能/會喝酒他很能/会喝酒
He is really good at drinking!