想, 要, 会, 能, 可以: want, can, may
Wanting (想, 要), a skill you learned (会), being able (能) and being allowed (可以).
Part of the free A1 Chinese course (about HSK 1–2). Examples are in Simplified characters with pinyin; press the speaker to hear one with your device's Chinese voice.
Helping verbs before the main verb
These five words go before another verb, like English want to, can, may. They never change, and they are negated with 不 (不 or 没: two ways to say 'not').
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 想 | xiǎng | would like to, feel like | 我想喝水 |
| 要 | yào | want to, be going to (firmer) | 我要买手机 |
| 会 | huì | can, know how to (a skill you learned) | 她会说中文 |
| 能 | néng | can, be able to (right now, in this situation) | 我今天不能去 |
| 可以 | kěyǐ | may, be allowed to | 我可以坐这儿吗？ |
Wanting: 想 and 要
想 is soft and polite: "I'd like to, I feel like". 要 is firmer: "I want to, I'm going to". 要 can also take a noun directly: 我要一杯茶 = I'd like a cup of tea (when ordering).
- 我想喝水。(Wǒ xiǎng hē shuǐ.)I'd like to drink some water.
- 我要买一个新手机。(Wǒ yào mǎi yí gè xīn shǒujī.)I'm going to buy a new phone.
- 你想去哪儿？(Nǐ xiǎng qù nǎr?)Where would you like to go?
For "I don't want to", say 不想. 不要 + verb usually means "don't!": 不要说话 = Don't talk!
Can: 会 or 能?
English "can" is two words in Chinese:
- 会: a skill you have learned: languages, swimming, driving, cooking.
- 能: whether you are able right now, given your time, health or situation.
(会 also means "will, be likely to": 明天会下雨 = it will rain tomorrow. That use comes later.)
- 她会说中文。(Tā huì shuō Zhōngwén.)She can speak Chinese.
- 我不会游泳。(Wǒ bú huì yóuyǒng.)I can't swim.
- 我今天不能去，我很忙。(Wǒ jīntiān bù néng qù, wǒ hěn máng.)I can't go today, I'm busy.
May: 可以
可以 asks for and gives permission. For "not allowed", 不能 is the most common answer.
- 我可以坐这儿吗？(Wǒ kěyǐ zuò zhèr ma?)May I sit here?
- 这儿不能抽烟。(Zhèr bù néng chōuyān.)You can't smoke here.
Common mistakes
我去想北京。→ 我想去北京。The helping verb goes before the main verb.我说会中文。→ 我会说中文。Same rule.可以我坐这儿吗？→ 我可以坐这儿吗？Subject first, then 可以.我没会游泳。→ 我不会游泳。Helping verbs take 不.- For a skill you learned, prefer 会: 我会开车 (I can drive), rather than 我能开车, which sounds like "I'm able to drive (now)".
Practice
- 我_____说一点儿中文。(Wǒ ___ shuō yìdiǎnr Zhōngwén.)Options: 会 (huì) · 想 (xiǎng) · 要 (yào)
Show the answer
会 (huì) — A language is a skill you learned: 会.
- 老师，我_____去洗手间吗？(Lǎoshī, wǒ ___ qù xǐshǒujiān ma?)Options: 可以 (kěyǐ) · 会 (huì) · 想 (xiǎng)
Show the answer
可以 (kěyǐ) — Asking permission: 可以.
- 我很累，_____睡觉。(Wǒ hěn lèi, ___ shuìjiào.)
Show the answer
想 — 想 = would like to; 要 (want to, am going to) also works.
- 他_____开车。(Tā ___ kāichē.)Options: 不会 (bú huì) · 不可以 (bù kěyǐ) · 不想 (bù xiǎng)
Show the answer
不会 (bú huì) — A skill not learned: 不会.