<p>会, as a verb, has a lot of meanings. You could interpret 'be able to' in your context. </p>

<p>Usually, you'd better add a verb after 会 for this usage in order to be more clear. For example, 我会跳舞（I'm able to dance）；我会手机 is unnatural and vague, it doesn't tell what you are able to do with 手机. So, you could put 我会玩手机，我会使用手机. </p>

<p>As in your example, "你会英文吗？"; it doesn't tell whether you 会（be able to） speak or write. People have to guess what you mean according to the context. In order to be more clear, you'd better put "你会讲英文吗？" or "你会写英文吗？".</p>

<p>In short, when 会 is used as "be able to", you should put a verb or verb phrase as its target in order to be clear. </p>

<p>As for 你说英文吗？, it's kind of a vague question too. It could mean either "are you able to speak English" or "Do you want to speak English" according to the context. So, in order to be more clear, you could put "你会说英文吗？"(are you able to speak English) or "你要 用/讲 英文吗？"(do you want to speak English.). </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-14T00:00:21.407Z
2017-10-14T00:00:21.407Z
dan
<p>This is exactly what I stuck in at the very early stage of learning Mandarin!</p>

<p>会 is usually used as an auxiliary verb (mean "can", "will", etc...) and thus take a verb after that, but it can also function as a verb, to mean "know" or "understand".</p>

<p>That's why in your example, both mean "Do you speak English?". </p>

<p>Also, if you want to use 会 as an auxiliary verb, you can also say "你会说英语吗？". </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-14T02:47:10.613Z
Although 会英语 is acceptable, I don't think it's a good expression. 会+noun is not a good practice. When 会 means know or understand, it would be used like, 别会错了我的意思，体会，心领神会.
dan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-14T02:59:27.440Z
Also, I would think 你会英文吗？ is just the short version of 你会讲英文吗？. It's just an omission.
dan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-14T10:51:38.503Z
@dan Really? It was explained as such in my grammar textbook, FYI (I could not cite it since I'm now traveling to Europe, though).
Blaszard
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-15T01:41:14.587Z
Only case, 会 + noun could make sense, is 会 一门 技能 or 手艺. 会一门语言 could be valid as you can take 语言 as 技能 (skill). In 会英语， you take 英语 as kind of skillset. But still it engages some ambiguity, and people may question what's the definition of 会英语？ Is it 'able to speak, write'? The criteria is vague for 会英语. But it could make sense in certain context where people understand what level command for 会英语.
dan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-15T02:35:34.260Z
I wouldn't say your grammar textbook is wrong, as people do say 会英文 in daily usage. It could be a matter of idiolect. To me, 会+noun is not a good practice except in 会技能/手艺. It would be more clear to add a verb following 会.
dan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-13T22:16:42.917Z
2017-10-13T22:16:42.917Z
Blaszard
<p>In spoken language, 吗 at the end and with a rising tone , in most cases, represents a question. Without 吗 at the end but in a rising tone, also is a question. No big difference. But it sounds natural and better with 吗 but not necessary when you ask a question.</p>

<p>Under some particular circumstance, 吗 at the end, read in a little prolonged way, can mean something different. Like a daughter who is pestering her Daddy to buy her some candy might say "爸爸, 给我买些糖吗, 恩, 求求你了吗. " </p>

<p>There might be other special uses. They have not crossed my mind at the moment.</p>

<p>Hope you like my answer.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-13T20:00:57.187Z
2017-10-13T20:00:57.187Z
Sleeping On a Giant's Shoulder
<p>What is the difference between the characters 会 (huì) and 说 (shuō), for example in these simple closed questions:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>你会英文吗？ [Nǐ huì Yīngwén ma?]</p>
<p>你说英文吗？ [Nǐ shuō Yīngwén ma?]</p>
</blockquote>
<p>I am wondering since various online resources give both of them as examples of the verb 'to speak' or 'to say' but I want clarification on whether this is correct and if there are any rules on when to use them in different contexts.</p>

<grammar><meaning-in-context>
What is the difference between 会 and 说 in 你会英文吗？ vs. 你说英文吗？
# What is the difference between 会 and 说 in 你会英文吗？ vs. 你说英文吗？

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-10-13)

What is the difference between the characters 会 (huì) and 说 (shuō), for example in these simple closed questions:

> 你会英文吗？ [Nǐ huì Yīngwén ma?]
>
> 你说英文吗？ [Nǐ shuō Yīngwén ma?]

I am wondering since various online resources give both of them as examples of the verb 'to speak' or 'to say' but I want clarification on whether this is correct and if there are any rules on when to use them in different contexts.

**Tags:** grammar, meaning-in-context


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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-10-14. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

会, as a verb, has a lot of meanings. You could interpret 'be able to' in your context.

Usually, you'd better add a verb after 会 for this usage in order to be more clear. For example, 我会跳舞（I'm able to dance）；我会手机 is unnatural and vague, it doesn't tell what you are able to do with 手机. So, you could put 我会玩手机，我会使用手机.

As in your example, "你会英文吗？"; it doesn't tell whether you 会（be able to） speak or write. People have to guess what you mean according to the context. In order to be more clear, you'd better put "你会讲英文吗？" or "你会写英文吗？".

In short, when 会 is used as "be able to", you should put a verb or verb phrase as its target in order to be clear.

As for 你说英文吗？, it's kind of a vague question too. It could mean either "are you able to speak English" or "Do you want to speak English" according to the context. So, in order to be more clear, you could put "你会说英文吗？"(are you able to speak English) or "你要 用/讲 英文吗？"(do you want to speak English.).


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### Answer by username_2 on 2017-10-13. Score: 3

This is exactly what I stuck in at the very early stage of learning Mandarin!

会 is usually used as an auxiliary verb (mean "can", "will", etc...) and thus take a verb after that, but it can also function as a verb, to mean "know" or "understand".

That's why in your example, both mean "Do you speak English?".

Also, if you want to use 会 as an auxiliary verb, you can also say "你会说英语吗？".

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Although 会英语 is acceptable, I don't think it's a good expression. 会+noun is not a good practice. When 会 means know or understand, it would be used like, 别会错了我的意思，体会，心领神会.  
> **username_1**: Also, I would think 你会英文吗？ is just the short version of 你会讲英文吗？. It's just an omission.  
> **username_2**: @username_1 Really? It was explained as such in my grammar textbook, FYI (I could not cite it since I'm now traveling to Europe, though).  
> **username_1**: Only case, 会 + noun could make sense, is 会 一门 技能 or 手艺. 会一门语言 could be valid as you can take 语言 as 技能 (skill). In 会英语， you take 英语 as kind of skillset. But still it engages some ambiguity, and people may question what's the definition of 会英语？ Is it 'able to speak, write'? The criteria is vague for 会英语. But it could make sense in certain context where people understand what level command for 会英语.  
> **username_1**: I wouldn't say your grammar textbook is wrong, as people do say 会英文 in daily usage. It could be a matter of idiolect. To me, 会+noun is not a good practice except in 会技能/手艺. It would be more clear to add a verb following 会.  

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### Answer by username_3 on 2017-10-13. Score: 1

In spoken language, 吗 at the end and with a rising tone , in most cases, represents a question. Without 吗 at the end but in a rising tone, also is a question. No big difference. But it sounds natural and better with 吗 but not necessary when you ask a question.

Under some particular circumstance, 吗 at the end, read in a little prolonged way, can mean something different. Like a daughter who is pestering her Daddy to buy her some candy might say "爸爸, 给我买些糖吗, 恩, 求求你了吗. "

There might be other special uses. They have not crossed my mind at the moment.

Hope you like my answer.


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