LEARN + CHINESE / 14 of 300 HSK 1
Can or Want To? 会
Your friend asks you to cook tonight. 我会做饭 says you know how; 今天我不能做饭 says something gets in the way today. For dinner itself, 我想吃面 is a wish, while 我要吃面 sounds more decided. These words go before the action, but each gives your answer a different reason or strength.
Examples
我会说中文。
Wǒ huì shuō Zhōngwén.
I can speak Chinese.
今天我不能去。
Jīntiān wǒ bù néng qù.
I can’t go today.
我想喝茶，也要吃饭。
Wǒ xiǎng hē chá, yě yào chī fàn.
I’d like tea, and I also need to eat.
Hint · 힌트
A modal is followed by a verb: 我想去. Do not add 的 between the modal and the verb.
Vocabulary
| Chinese | English |
|---|---|
chàng | to sing |
huì | can; to be able to |
xiàcì | next time |
míngtiān | tomorrow |
shāngchǎng | shopping mall |
xiǎng | to think; want |
yǒuxiē | some |
yào | to want; to need |
néng | can; be able to |
jīntiān | today |
zhōngwén | Chinese language |
chīfàn | to have a meal |
wǒ | I; me |
bù | not; no |
yě | also; too |
qù | to go |
chī | to eat |
hē | to drink |
shuō | to speak; say |
tiān | sky; day |
YOUR PROGRESS
Finished this lesson?
Save your place in this course.