Usage note
会表示有能力做某事，也可以表示将来要发生的事。
huì biǎoshì yǒu nénglì zuò mǒushì, yě kěyǐ biǎoshì jiānglái yào fāshēng de shì.
This word means having the ability to do something, or that something will happen in the future.
Context note
“会”这个字在日常生活里常常用到，可以表示一个人有能力做某件事，也可以表示将要发生的事或参加的会议。
“huì” zhè ge zì zài rì cháng shēng huó lǐ cháng cháng yòng dào, kě yǐ biǎo shì yī gè rén yǒu néng lì zuò mǒu jiàn shì, yě kě yǐ biǎo shì jiāng yào fā shēng de shì huò cān jiā de huì yì.
The word '会' is commonly used in daily life. It can express that someone has the ability to do something, or it can refer to something that will happen or a meeting to attend.
5 examples
他会游泳
Tā huì yóuyǒng
He can swim
我们明天会去公园
Wǒmen míngtiān huì qù gōngyuán
We will go to the park tomorrow
你会画画吗？
Nǐ huì huàhuà ma?
Can you draw?
我不会说英语
Wǒ bù huì shuō yīngyǔ
I cannot speak English
会议在下午三点开始
Huìyì zài xiàwǔ sān diǎn kāishǐ
The meeting starts at 3 PM
5 mini stories
小明会自己系鞋带了。他蹲下来，小手慢慢拉紧鞋带，站起来跳了跳，鞋子没松开。
Xiǎo Míng huì zìjǐ jì xiédài le. Tā dūn xiàlái, xiǎo shǒu màn man lā jǐn xiédài, zhàn qǐlái tiào le tiào, xiézi méi sōng kāi.
Xiao Ming can tie his shoelaces by himself now. He crouched down, slowly pulled the laces tight with his little hands, stood up and jumped a bit—the shoes didn't come loose.
妈妈问谁会包饺子，姐姐举起手说她会。她把馅放在皮中间，轻轻捏出小花边，一个胖饺子就包好了。
Māma wèn shéi huì bāo jiǎozi, jiějie jǔ qǐ shǒu shuō tā huì. Tā bǎ xiàn fàng zài pí zhōngjiān, qīng qīng niē chū xiǎo huābiān, yī gè pàng jiǎozi jiù bāo hǎo le.
Mom asked who can make dumplings, and big sister raised her hand and said she can. She put the filling in the middle of the wrapper, gently pinched a little frilly edge, and a chubby dumpling was done.
下午三点有个班会，老师让大家准时到教室。同学们坐成一圈，轮流说周末的趣事，笑声一阵接一阵。
Xiàwǔ sān diǎn yǒu gè bānhuì, lǎoshī ràng dàjiā zhǔnshí dào jiàoshì. Tóngxué men zuò chéng yī quān, lúnliú shuō zhōumò de qùshì, xiàoshēng yī zhèn jiē yī zhèn.
There is a class meeting at three in the afternoon, and the teacher asked everyone to come to the classroom on time. The students sat in a circle, took turns sharing fun weekend stories, and laughter rippled one after another.
小狗不会说话，但它会摇尾巴。我放学回家刚推开门，它就冲过来围着我转圈，尾巴摇得像小风扇。
Xiǎo gǒu bù huì shuōhuà, dàn tā huì yáo wěiba. Wǒ fàngxué huí jiā gāng tuī kāi mén, tā jiù chōng guòlái wéi zhe wǒ zhuàn quān, wěiba yáo de xiàng xiǎo fēngshàn.
The little dog can't talk, but it can wag its tail. As soon as I came home from school and pushed the door open, it rushed over and circled around me, its tail wagging like a little fan.
爷爷说他会修小闹钟。他戴上眼镜，用螺丝刀轻轻转了几下，滴答滴答的声音又回来了。
Yéye shuō tā huì xiū xiǎo nàozhōng. Tā dài shàng yǎnjìng, yòng luósīdāo qīng qīng zhuǎn le jǐ xià, dīdā dīdā de shēngyīn yòu huí lái le.
Grandpa said he can fix the little alarm clock. He put on his glasses, gently turned a few times with a screwdriver, and the tick-tock sound came back again.
Mini dialogue
你会吗
A
你会说中文吗？
Nǐ huì shuō Zhōngwén ma?
Can you speak Chinese?
B
我会说一点点。
Wǒ huì shuō yìdiǎndiǎn.
I can speak a little.
开会
A
妈妈在开会吗？
Māma zài kāihuì ma?
Is Mom in a meeting?
B
对，她一会儿就会回来。
Duì, tā yíhuìr jiù huì huílai.
Yes, she will be back in a moment.
Related words and contrasts
similar
能
néng
can; able to
能 also means can, often focusing on physical ability or permission.
similar
可以
kěyǐ
can; may
可以 is another way to say can or may, often asking for or giving permission.
related
开会
kāihuì
have a meeting
开会 uses 会 in its meaning of meeting, to say hold or attend a meeting.