Modal verbs in Chinese: 想, 要, 会, 能, 可以, 应该 and more
Chinese has 11 everyday modal verbs, the words for can, want, should, must and dare. They all sit directly before the main verb: 我想学中文 (Wǒ xiǎng xué Zhōngwén, I want to learn Chinese). The hard part is choosing between the ones that translate to the same English word, chiefly 会 and 能.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | HSK | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 想 | xiǎng | want to, would like to (a wish, softer than 要) | 1 | 我想喝茶。 Wǒ xiǎng hē chá. I would like to drink tea. |
| 要 | yào | want to, be going to (a decision, stronger than 想) | 1 | 我要买这个。 Wǒ yào mǎi zhège. I want to buy this one. |
| 会 | huì | can, know how to (a learned skill); will (a prediction) | 1 | 我会说中文。 Wǒ huì shuō Zhōngwén. I can speak Chinese. |
| 能 | néng | can, be able to (ability or circumstances allow) | 1 | 你今天能来吗？ Nǐ jīntiān néng lái ma? Can you come today? |
| 可以 | kěyǐ | may, can (permission) | 2 | 这里可以拍照吗？ Zhèlǐ kěyǐ pāizhào ma? May I take photos here? |
| 应该 | yīnggāi | should, ought to | 2 | 你应该多休息。 Nǐ yīnggāi duō xiūxi. You should rest more. |
| 愿意 | yuànyì | be willing to | 2 | 我愿意帮你。 Wǒ yuànyì bāng nǐ. I am willing to help you. |
| 可能 | kěnéng | might, may (a possibility) | 2 | 明天可能下雨。 Míngtiān kěnéng xiàyǔ. It might rain tomorrow. |
| 敢 | gǎn | dare to | 3 | 他不敢一个人去。 Tā bù gǎn yí ge rén qù. He does not dare to go alone. |
| 需要 | xūyào | need to | 3 | 你需要带护照。 Nǐ xūyào dài hùzhào. You need to bring your passport. |
| 得 | děi | have to, must (read děi here, not de) | 4 | 我得走了。 Wǒ děi zǒu le. I have to go now. |
Which one when two mean "can"
会 is a skill you learned: 我会开车, I know how to drive. 能 is ability right now or whether something is possible: 我今天能开车, I can drive today. 可以 is permission: 你可以开我的车, you may drive my car. The three pages that go deeper are 会 and 能, 可能、可以、应该、愿意 and the pairs learners confuse.
Negating a modal
Put 不 before the modal: 我不想去, 他不会说英文. Two exceptions matter. 不能 and 不可以 mean "not allowed", and "do not have to" is 不用, not a negated 得.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between 会 and 能?
会 means you learned how to do something: 我会游泳 (I can swim). 能 means you are able to do it right now, or circumstances allow it: 我今天不能游泳 (I cannot swim today, perhaps because I am ill). Both are translated as "can".
What is the difference between 想 and 要?
想 is a wish, 要 is a decision. 我想去中国 is "I would like to go to China"; 我要去中国 is "I am going to China", or "I want to go" said firmly. In a polite request, 想 sounds softer.
Where does a modal verb go in a Chinese sentence?
Directly before the main verb: subject + modal + verb + object, as in 我想学中文. To negate it, put 不 before the modal: 我不想学中文. To ask, add 吗 or use the modal and its negation: 你想不想学中文？
How do you say "do not have to" in Chinese?
Use 不用 or 不必, as in 你不用来 (you do not need to come). 不得 is not the opposite of 得 (děi) in everyday speech. 不能 is the usual way to say something is not allowed.
Which modal verbs are in HSK 1?
想, 要, 会 and 能 are the four taught at HSK 1. 可以, 应该, 愿意 and 可能 follow at HSK 2, then 敢 and 需要 at HSK 3 and 得 (děi) at HSK 4.
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