Can, Must & Want in Chinese 能愿动词
néng yuàn dòngcí
Can / must / want in Chinese are 能 / 必须 / 想 (néng / bì xū / xiǎng).
Also searched for as: can, must, want, modal verbs.
What can you do, and what do you have to do? 15 essential can, must & want words in Mandarin Chinese, with pinyin and English. Open it in the app to hear each word, tick off the ones you know and turn them into flashcards.
Modal verbs are some of the hardest-working words in Mandarin, and English 'can' alone splits into three: 会 (huì) for skills you have learned, 能 (néng) for ability or circumstances, and 可以 (kě yǐ) for permission. You also need 要 (yào), 想 (xiǎng) and 得 (děi) to talk about wanting and having to. Getting these right makes requests, plans and polite refusals sound far more natural.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 会 | huì | can (learned skill) |
| 能 | néng | can (able to) |
| 可以 | kě yǐ | may; can (allowed) |
| 要 | yào | want to; going to |
| 想 | xiǎng | would like to |
| 应该 | yīng gāi | should |
| 必须 | bì xū | must |
| 得 | děi | have to |
| 需要 | xū yào | to need |
| 愿意 | yuàn yì | to be willing |
| 敢 | gǎn | to dare |
| 不用 | bù yòng | no need |
| 别 | bié | don't |
| 不要 | bù yào | don't; don't want |
| 可能 | kě néng | might; possible |
Usage tips
- 想 (xiǎng) is softer than 要 (yào): 我想喝咖啡 is 'I'd like a coffee', while 我要咖啡 is a direct 'I want a coffee', which is fine when ordering but can sound blunt elsewhere.
- 得 (děi) is casual and spoken, while 必须 (bì xū) is stronger and suits rules and signs. To say 'you don't have to', use 不用 (bù yòng), not 不得, which means 'must not' in formal writing.
- 别 (bié) and 不要 (bù yào) both give negative commands, but 别 is shorter and more conversational; adding 了 at the end, as in 别说了 (bié shuō le), means 'stop doing it'.
Common mistakes
- Using 能 (néng) for learned skills: 我能游泳 sounds as if you're physically able to swim right now. For skills like swimming, driving or speaking a language, say 我会游泳 (wǒ huì yóu yǒng).
- Saying 不要 when you mean 'don't need to': 你不要来 means 'Don't come!' To say 'you don't have to come', use 你不用来 (nǐ bù yòng lái).
Mini dialogue
- A你会开车吗？Nǐ huì kāi chē ma?Can you drive?
- B会，怎么了？Huì, zěn me le?Yes, why?
- A明天我得去机场，你能送我吗？Míng tiān wǒ děi qù jī chǎng, nǐ néng sòng wǒ ma?I have to go to the airport tomorrow. Could you take me?
- B可以，不过你应该早点儿出发。Kě yǐ, bù guò nǐ yīng gāi zǎo diǎnr chū fā.Sure, but you should set off a bit earlier.
Example sentences
- 我会游泳。I can swim.
- 你明天能来吗？Can you come tomorrow?
- 这里可以拍照吗？Can we take photos here?
- 我要去银行。I need to go to the bank.
- 我想喝咖啡。I'd like a coffee.
- 你应该早点儿睡。You should go to bed earlier.
- 上课必须准时。You must be on time for class.
- 我得走了。I have to go.
- 你需要帮助吗？Do you need help?
- 你愿意跟我去吗？Would you be willing to come with me?
- 我不敢一个人去。I don't dare go on my own.
- 不用谢！No need to thank me!
- 别说话了。Stop talking.
- 不要忘了带伞。Don't forget your umbrella.
- 明天可能会下雨。It might rain tomorrow.
Practise speaking
Ready to use these words? The Can, must & want speaking island has 8 everyday questions about can, must & want to prepare your own answers to.