Expressing Abilities in Chinese: Essential Modal Verbs
Being able to say what you can or cannot do is super useful when learning Chinese! In this comprehensive lesson, you'll learn different words for expressing abilities, asking permission, and talking about what you want to do in everyday Mandarin conversations.
Basic Chinese Ability Words: Different Ways to Say "Can"
Let's learn these important modal verbs for expressing what you can do in Mandarin Chinese:
Mandarin Words for Expressing Wants and Needs
These essential Chinese words help you express desires and obligations in daily conversation:
Common Chinese Ability Phrases You'll Use Every Day
These practical phrases will help you talk about specific abilities and ask permission in Mandarin:
Understanding Chinese Ability Words: When to Use Each One
Let's learn more about each of these important Mandarin Chinese modal verbs and how to use them correctly:
会 (huì) - Can (Learned Skill)
会can, will, be able to means "can" or "know how to" - use this for skills you have learned through study or practice. For example: 我会说中文 (I can speak Chinese).
能 (néng) - Can (Ability/Possibility)
能can, be able to means "can" or "be able to" - use this for physical abilities or possibilities. For example: 我能帮你 (I can help you).
可以 (kěyǐ) - May (Permission)
可以can means "can" or "may" - use this for permission or when something is allowed. For example: 你可以用我的笔 (You may use my pen).
不会 (bú huì) - Cannot (Lack of Skill)
不会cannot, don't know how to means "cannot" or "don't know how to" - use this to express lack of a learned skill. For example: 我不会游泳 (I can't swim).
不能 (bù néng) - Cannot (Unable)
不能cannot, must not means "cannot" or "am not able to" - use this when something is not possible. For example: 今天我不能去 (I can't go today).
How to Express Wants and Needs in Mandarin Chinese
Now let's learn about these common Chinese words for expressing desires and obligations:
想 (xiǎng) - Want To
想want, think, miss means "want to" or "would like to" - use this for desires or wishes. For example: 我想学中文 (I want to learn Chinese).
要 (yào) - Will/Need To
要want, need, will means "want to," "need to," or "will" - stronger than 想 and can indicate necessity. For example: 我要回家 (I need to go home).
应该 (yīnggāi) - Should
应该should, ought to means "should" or "ought to" - use this for giving advice or talking about obligations. For example: 你应该休息 (You should rest).
不可以 (bù kěyǐ) - May Not
不可以not allowed, may not means "may not" or "cannot" - use this when something is not permitted. For example: 这里不可以吸烟 (Smoking is not allowed here).
Practical Chinese Ability Phrases for Everyday Conversation
These common phrases combine ability words with everyday actions in Mandarin:
会说 (huì shuō) - Can Speak
会说can speak means "can speak" - use this to talk about language abilities. For example: 你会说英语吗？ (Can you speak English?).
会做 (huì zuò) - Can Make/Do
会做can make, know how to do means "can make" or "can do" - use this for skills related to creating or performing tasks. For example: 我会做中国菜 (I can cook Chinese food).
会游泳 (huì yóuyǒng) - Can Swim
会游泳can swim means "can swim" - a commonly used example of a physical skill. For example: 他会游泳 (He can swim).
可以吗 (kěyǐ ma) - May I?
可以吗is it okay?, may I? is a question ending that means "Is it okay?" or "May I?" - add this after a statement to ask for permission. For example: 我可以进来吗？ (May I come in?).
想去 (xiǎng qù) - Want to Go
想去want to go means "want to go" - a common phrase for expressing travel desires. For example: 我想去北京 (I want to go to Beijing).
Real-Life Chinese Dialogues About Abilities and Permissions
Try practicing these natural conversations about abilities and permissions in Mandarin:
Dialogue 1: Language Abilities in Chinese
- 👩🦰 你会说中文吗？ - Can you speak Chinese?
- 👨🎓 我会说一点儿中文。你呢？ - I can speak a little Chinese. How about you?
- 👩🦰 我不会说中文，但我想学。 - I can't speak Chinese, but I want to learn.
- 👨🎓 我可以教你！ - I can teach you!
Dialogue 2: Asking Permission in Mandarin
- 👨🎓 老师，我可以问一个问题吗？ - Teacher, may I ask a question?
- 👩🏫 可以，请问。 - Yes, please ask.
- 👨🎓 这个字怎么读？ - How do you read this character?
- 👩🏫 <span class="letter-card audio-card inline-card" data-audio="/voice/这个字读"huì"。.mp3" data-level="1" data-type="sentence">这个字读"huì"。 - This character is read "huì".
Dialogue 3: Making Plans in Chinese
- 👨🦱 明天你能来我家吗？ - Can you come to my house tomorrow?
- 👩🎓 明天我不能去，我要工作。 - I can't go tomorrow, I need to work.
- 👨🦱 那星期六可以吗？ - Then is Saturday okay?
- 👩🎓 可以，星期六我有空。 - Yes, I'm free on Saturday.
More Useful Chinese Ability Expressions for Daily Life
Here are a few more helpful phrases for talking about abilities and permissions in Mandarin:
- 会开车 - "can drive" - a useful skill to discuss in everyday conversations
- 会做饭 - "can cook" - talking about cooking skills with friends or family
- 能来 - "can come" - discussing availability for social gatherings
- 不可以吸烟 - "smoking not allowed" - a common prohibition you'll see in public places
- 要学习 - "need to study" - expressing an educational obligation
- 想喝水 - "want to drink water" - expressing a basic desire or need
Essential Chinese Sentence Patterns for Expressing Abilities
Here are some typical patterns for talking about abilities and permissions in everyday Mandarin:
- 我会动词...(吗) - I can [verb] (question)
- 你不会动词 - You can't [verb]
- 我可以动词...吗 - May I [verb]?
- 这里(不)可以动词 - [Verb] is (not) allowed here
- 我想动词... - I want to [verb]
- 你要动词... - You need to [verb]
Cultural Notes: How Chinese People Express Abilities
Understanding these cultural aspects will help you communicate better in Mandarin:
- Modesty is highly valued - Chinese people often downplay their abilities, even when skilled
- Permission is often asked more explicitly than in some Western cultures
- Indirect refusals are common - "I'll try" might mean "I can't do it but don't want to say no"
- Skill demonstration is appreciated - showing rather than telling about abilities
- Age and skill - respect is given to those who have developed skills over many years
Practice Tips for Mastering Chinese Ability Words
- Make a list of 5 things you can do and 5 things you can't do using 会can, will, be able to/不会cannot, don't know how to
- Practice asking permission using 可以吗is it okay?, may I? in different situations
- Role-play conversations about abilities with friends learning Chinese
- Create sentences about your plans using 想want, think, miss and 要want, need, will
- Listen for these modal verbs in Chinese podcasts, videos, or conversations
With these essential ability words, you'll be able to talk about what you can and can't do in Mandarin Chinese! Whether you're discussing your skills, asking for permission, or expressing your desires, these modal verbs will help you communicate more effectively in everyday Chinese conversations.