会 · 不会
can: a skill you have learned
Structure
主语 + 会/不会 + 动词 (+ 宾语)
What it means
会 means “can” for something you know how to do because you learned it: a language, driving, writing characters.
How it is built
Subject + 会/不会 + verb (+ object): 我会说汉语 (I can speak Chinese). 还不会 means “can’t yet”: 我还不会写汉字.
When to use it
Answer a 会 question with just 会 or 不会: 你会开车吗?——不会. For being able right now, or being allowed, use 能 instead.
Watch out
✗ 我没会开车。 ✓ 我不会开车。 The negative of 会 is always 不会, never 没会.
Examples
我会说汉语,还不会写汉字。
I can speak Chinese, but I can’t write characters yet.
你会开车吗?——不会。
Can you drive? — No, I can’t.
我的猫会开门!
My cat knows how to open the door!
Learn this in HSK 1 · Lesson 14: 我会说汉语 (What I can do)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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