會 huì会 huì has two main jobs. It can mean “can” in the sense of a skill you’ve learned, or “will” when you’re talking about something that’s going to happen in the future.
一 Skill: “Can” (Know How To)
Subject + 會会 + Verb
會 huì会 huì is about a skill you’ve learned or been trained to do, like speaking a language, driving, or playing an instrument. It’s closer to “know how to” than to “be able to.”
我會会開車开车
I can drive.
I know how to drive.
我不會不会說说中文
I can’t speak Chinese.
Because I never learned it.
我不會不会打籃球篮球
I don’t know how to play basketball.
那孩子還还不會不会走路
That child can’t walk yet.
He’s too young to have learned.
你會不會会不会寫写你的中文名字？
Can you write your Chinese name?
他只會会抱怨，不會不会做事
All he knows how to do is complain. He has no idea how to get things done.
Three kinds of “can”Chinese has three words that can mean “can”: 會 huì会 huì, 可以 kěyǐ and 能 néng. Not sure which one to use? Check out this post.
二 Future: “Will”
Subject + (Time) + 會会 + Verb
會 huì会 huì can also mean “will.” This isn’t about what you want or decide to do. It’s a simple statement that something is going to happen.
我明年會会去上海工作
I’ll be working in Shanghai next year.
Just a fact about the future, not a decision I’m announcing.
他下星期三不會不会來来公司
He won’t be at the office next Wednesday.
It’s not that he doesn’t want to come. He just won’t be there.
你買买的東西东西下個月下个月會会到
Your order will arrive next month.
You can’t choose when it arrives. It’s just a fact.
明天會会下雨
It’s going to rain tomorrow.
你明天會会去他的生日派對派对嗎吗？
Are you going to his birthday party tomorrow?
A neutral question: just asking whether you’ll be there.
會会 or 要?會 huì会 huì and 要 yào can both mean “will,” but they feel different. Find out how in this post.
三 Common Mistakes
❌ 我沒没會会游泳
✅ 我不會不会游泳
會 huì会 huì is always negated with 不 bù, never 沒 méi没 méi.
❌ 他會会到明天
✅ 他明天會会到
The time word goes before會 huì会 huì, not at the end like in English.
❌ 我會会進來进来嗎吗？
✅ 我可以進來进来嗎吗？
Asking for permission (“May I come in?”) is 可以 kěyǐ, not 會 huì会 huì. 會 huì会 huì is only for learned skills and future facts.
四 Practice
Tap the words below in the right order to build the sentence, then check your answer. If it’s wrong, you can try again as many times as you like, or hit “Show answer” if you get stuck. Careful: some tiles are traps and are not needed!
Question 1 of 10
“My little sister can play the piano.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
我妹妹會会彈弹鋼琴钢琴
Playing the piano is a learned skill, so 會 huì会 huì.
“I don’t know how to swim.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
我不會会游泳
會 huì会 huì is negated with 不 bù. The 沒 méi没 méi tile is a trap.
“It’ll be really cold tomorrow.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
明天會会很冷
A simple statement about the future, so 會 huì会 huì means “will.”
“Can you cook?”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
你會不會会不会做飯做饭？
會不會 huì bú huì会不会 huì bú huì is already a question, so the 嗎 ma吗 ma tile is a trap.
“He won’t come to the party tonight.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
他今天晚上不會不会來来派對派对
Starting with 今天晚上 jīntiān wǎnshàng is also correct.
不會 bú huì不会 bú huì = “won’t.” The time word comes before it.
“My package will arrive the day after tomorrow.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
我的包裹後天后天會会到
Starting with 後天 hòutiān后天 hòutiān is also correct.
You can’t decide when it arrives. It’s just a future fact.
“The baby can already talk.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
寶寶宝宝已經已经會会說話说话了
Talking is something a baby has to learn, so 會 huì会 huì. 已經⋯了 yǐjīng … le已经⋯了 yǐjīng … le shows it’s new.
“Will you be home next week?”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
你下星期會会在家嗎吗？
Starting with 下星期 xià xīngqí is also correct.
A neutral question about the future: will you be there or not?
“All she knows how to do is play. She has no idea how to study.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
她只會会玩，不會不会念書学习
只會 zhǐ huì只会 zhǐ huì = “all she knows how to do is…”
“I don’t think it will rain today.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
我覺得觉得今天不會不会下雨
Chinese says “I think it won’t rain,” not “I don’t think it will.”
