HSK 1 grammar · new HSK syllabus
会, 能, 可以: can
会 = a learned skill, 能 = ability or possibility, 可以 = permission.
Structure
- Subject + 会 / 能 / 可以 + verb
How it works
会 is for skills you have learned: 我会说汉语, 他会开车.
能 is for being able to do something in a situation: 我今天不能来 (I can’t come today), 你能听见吗？
可以 asks or gives permission: 我可以坐这儿吗？ It often overlaps with 能.
会 can also mean “will, likely to”: 明天会下雨.
Examples
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我会说一点儿汉语。
Wǒ huì shuō yìdiǎnr Hànyǔ.
I can speak a little Chinese.
-
他会开车。
Tā huì kāichē.
He can drive.
-
我明天不能来上课。
Wǒ míngtiān bù néng lái shàngkè.
I can’t come to class tomorrow.
-
我可以坐这儿吗？
Wǒ kěyǐ zuò zhèr ma?
May I sit here?
-
你能听见我说话吗？
Nǐ néng tīngjiàn wǒ shuōhuà ma?
Can you hear me?
Words in these examples (19)
| 我 | wǒ | I; me | HSK 1 |
| 会 | huì | can; to know how to | HSK 1 |
| 说 | shuō | to say; to speak | HSK 1 |
| 一点儿 | yìdiǎnr | a little; a bit | HSK 1 |
| 汉语 | Hànyǔ | Chinese (language) | HSK 1 |
| 他 | tā | he; him | HSK 1 |
| 开车 | kāichē | to drive (a car) | HSK 1 |
| 明天 | míngtiān | tomorrow | HSK 1 |
| 不 | bù | not; no | HSK 1 |
| 能 | néng | can; to be able to | HSK 1 |
| 来 | lái | to come | HSK 1 |
| 上课 | shàngkè | to have class; to start class | HSK 1 |
| 可以 | kěyǐ | can; may | HSK 1 |
| 坐 | zuò | to sit; to take (bus, plane) | HSK 1 |
| 这儿 | zhèr | here | HSK 1 |
| 吗 | ma | (question particle for yes/no questions) | HSK 1 |
| 你 | nǐ | you | HSK 1 |
| 听见 | tīngjiàn | to hear | HSK 1 |
| 说话 | shuōhuà | to talk; to speak | HSK 1 |
Common mistakes
-
✗我能说汉语。（a learned skill）
✓我会说汉语。
A skill you learned usually takes 会.
-
✗我会不去。
✓我不会去。
不 goes before the modal verb.
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 我妹妹 写很多汉字。
2. 老师，我 看一下你的书吗？
3. 我今天很忙，不 去看你。