可以 vs 会 (kěyǐ vs huì): permission vs learned ability
可以 (kěyǐ) and 会 (huì) both translate to 'can' in English, but they serve different purposes. 可以 is used for permission and circumstantial possibility (e.g., 'You can go' meaning you are allowed). 会 is used for learned skills (e.g., 'I can swim' meaning I know how) and for predictions or future events (e.g., 'It will rain'). The key distinction is permission vs ability.
Both 可以 (kěyǐ) and 会 (huì) can mean 'can', but they are not interchangeable. 可以 focuses on permission or external conditions that allow something to happen. 会 focuses on a person's learned ability or a future prediction. For example, 'I can swim' as a skill requires 会, while 'You can swim here' as permission requires 可以. Understanding this permission vs skill distinction is essential for choosing the correct word.
When to use each
Use 可以 to ask for or grant permission (e.g., 我可以进来吗？ 'May I come in?'), to express that something is allowed or feasible given circumstances (e.g., 这里可以抽烟 'Smoking is allowed here'), and in polite requests. 可以 does not indicate a learned skill; for that, use 会 or 能.
可以 can also express possibility or feasibility based on external conditions, e.g., 明天可以去 means 'It is possible to go tomorrow' because conditions allow it. It does not indicate personal ability.
Use 会 to indicate a learned skill or knowledge (e.g., 我会说中文 'I can speak Chinese'), and to make predictions about the future or express inevitable events (e.g., 明天会下雨 'It will rain tomorrow'). 会 is not used for permission; for that, use 可以.
会 can also indicate a natural tendency or willingness in some contexts, but it never implies external permission.
At a glance
| 可以 | 会 | |
|---|---|---|
| Permission | Yes – asks/gives permission | No – not used for permission |
| Learned ability (skill) | No – not used for skill | Yes – knows how to |
| Possibility (feasibility) | Yes – circumstantial possibility | No – use 可能 or 会 for prediction |
Examples
- 可以我可以进来吗？Wǒ kěyǐ jìnlái ma?May I come in?Permission – asking if allowed.
- 可以这里可以抽烟。Zhèlǐ kěyǐ chōuyān.Smoking is allowed here.Permission/feasibility – external rule.
- 会我会游泳。Wǒ huì yóuyǒng.I can swim.Learned skill – I know how to swim.
- 会明天会下雨。Míngtiān huì xiàyǔ.It will rain tomorrow.Prediction – future event.
- 可以她可以来吗？（允许）Tā kěyǐ lái ma? (yǔnxǔ)Can she come? (permission)Contrast with ability – 可以 for permission, not skill.
- 会她会说英语。Tā huì shuō Yīngyǔ.She can speak English.Skill – she learned English.
Common mistakes
- Using 会 to ask for permission: ✗ 我会进来吗？ → use 可以.
- Using 可以 to express a learned skill: ✗ 我可以游泳 (if meaning 'I know how to swim') → use 会.
- Confusing 'can' in 'I can come tomorrow' – if it's about permission/feasibility, use 可以; if it's a personal plan/prediction, use 会.
- Using 会 for circumstantial possibility like 'The store can open at 9' → use 可以, not 会.
FAQ
- When do I use 可以 vs 会?
- Use 可以 when you talk about permission or if something is allowed/possible due to external conditions. Use 会 when you talk about a learned skill (knowing how to do something) or when making a prediction about the future.
- Can I use 会 for permission?
- No, 会 never indicates permission. To ask or say that something is allowed, always use 可以 (or 能 in some contexts).
- What is the difference between 可以 and 会 in 'I can swim'?
- If you mean 'I know how to swim' (a skill), use 我会游泳. If you mean 'I am allowed to swim' (permission, e.g., in a pool), use 我可以游泳. The context determines which is correct.
- Can 可以 express future tense like 会?
- 可以 does not mark future tense. It can refer to future events if the context allows (e.g., 明天可以去 'We can go tomorrow' meaning it is possible), but it is not a future marker like 会 (which predicts or expresses inevitable future events).