会 (huì) means "can, will, meeting" with 6 strokes, radical 人 (person), HSK 1 on the new exam.
Pronunciation
Meaning
Primary: can
Other meanings:
- will
- meeting
Etymology
Oracle-bone origin
The traditional 會 depicts a lidded vessel containing layered contents; typically interpreted as a steamer or covered pot with grain inside. Oracle bone and bronze forms show a clear three-part structure: lid on top, contents in the middle, base below. The original sense was things coming together or fitting together, as lid meets pot.
Form evolution
Bronze forms are highly pictographic, with visible lid, stacked middle layer, and base. Seal script regularised the three layers into the familiar 會 shape. Clerical script squared off the curves. The simplified 会 is derived from a Song-Yuan era cursive form that reduced the complex middle layer to 云, keeping only the top 人 (lid) and the bottom horizontal.
How the meaning evolved
From 'to fit together' it extended to 'to meet, to assemble' (a meeting of people), then to 'to understand' (ideas fitting together in the mind), and finally to the modal 'to be able to' and 'to be likely to'. All four senses are active in modern Mandarin: 开会 (hold a meeting), 会议 (conference), 我会说中文 (I can speak Chinese), 他会来 (he will come).
Cultural note
The modal 会 specifically indicates learned ability or probability, distinct from 能 (physical capability) and 可以 (permission). A classic learner error is saying 我能说中文 when they mean they have studied the language; native speakers hear this as 'I am physically capable of producing Chinese sounds', which is oddly literal.
Mnemonic
People gather under clouds — a meeting of ability
Decomposition
Breaking a character into its components makes it far easier to recall. Each component above links to its own detail page.
Basic info
| Pinyin | huì |
| Meanings | can, will, meeting |
| Stroke count | 6 strokes |
| Radical | 人 (#9: person) |
| New HSK exam | Recognise at HSK 1, write by hand at HSK 1-2 |
| Frequency | #89 most common |
Example sentences
Words containing 会
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | HSK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 会 | huì | can, will, meeting | HSK 1 |
| 一会儿 | yíhuìr | a while | HSK 2 |
| 会议 | huìyì | Meeting | HSK 3 |
| 机会 | jīhuì | Opportunity | HSK 3 |
| 聚会 | jùhuì | Party | HSK 4 |
| 社会 | shèhuì | society | HSK 4 |
| 误会 | wùhuì | Misunderstanding | HSK 4 |
| 约会 | yuēhuì | Date | HSK 4 |
| 宴会 | yànhuì | banquet | HSK 6 |
| 会计 | kuàijì | accountant | HSK 6 |
| 体会 | tǐhuì | Experience | HSK 5 |
| 博览会 | bólǎnhuì | fair, exhibition | HSK 6 |
| 不一会儿 | bùyīhuìr | in a moment, shortly | |
| 峰会 | fēnghuì | summit meeting | HSK 7-9 |
| 工会 | gōnghuì | labor union | HSK 7-9 |
Related characters
Similar meaning (abstract)
On the new HSK 1 exam
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Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.