會

Will / Would

Level 1Sounds Like wui6

In Cantonese, 會 (wui5) works like 'will' or 'would' in English. Placed directly before a verb phrase, it indicates that an action or situation is likely to happen in the future.

How It Works

1. Predicting Future Events
To express that an event 'will' happen, place 會 (wui5) directly in front of the main verb.
Example: 佢會嚟 (keoi5 wui5 lei4) = 'He will come.'

2. Pairing with 嘅 (ge3) for Reassurance
In spoken Cantonese, speakers often end predictive statements with 嘅 (ge3). This particle adds a sense of reassurance or confidence (e.g., 'Don't worry, he'll come').
Example: 佢會嚟嘅 (keoi5 wui5 lei4 ge3).

3. Negation with 唔會 (m4 wui5)
To say 'will not' or 'unlikely to', place 唔 (m4) before 會 (wui5) to form 唔會 (m4 wui5).
Example: 聽日唔會落雨 (ting1 jat6 m4 wui5 lok6 jyu5) = 'It won't rain tomorrow.'

4. Asking Questions with 會唔會 (wui5 m4 wui5)
To ask 'Will [subject]...?', use the V-唔-V pattern: 會唔會 (wui5 m4 wui5).
Example: 你會唔會去？ (nei5 wui5 m4 wui5 heoi3?) = 'Will you go?'

5. Distinction: 會 (wui5) vs. 識 (sik1)
Unlike Mandarin (which uses 会 for both future 'will' and learned skills), spoken Cantonese uses 識 (sik1) for learned skills (like speaking languages or swimming). Use 會 (wui5) primarily for future predictions and probabilities.

Examples (4)

  1. 佢聽日會嚟嘅。

    He will come tomorrow.

    Word by Word: He tomorrow will come [reassurance particle].

    Uses 會 (wui5) to predict a future event, paired with 嘅 (ge3) at the end to reassure the listener.

  2. 聽日唔會落雨。

    It won't rain tomorrow.

    Word by Word: Tomorrow not will fall rain.

    Negated with 唔 (m4) before 會 (wui5) to express that an outcome is unlikely or will not happen.

  3. 你會唔會去開會啊？

    Will you go to the meeting?

    Word by Word: You will not will go attend meeting [particle]?

    Uses the 會唔會 (wui5 m4 wui5) A-not-A question format to ask if something will occur.

  4. 我哋會再見面嘅。

    We will meet again.

    Word by Word: We will again see face [reassurance particle].

    Expresses conviction about a future expectation or promise.

Common Mistakes

  • Thinking 會 (wui5) cannot show ability.

    Different Meaning我會講廣東話。
    我識講廣東話。

    我會講廣東話 is natural. 識 (sik1) puts the focus on a skill you learned, and 會 (wui5) is also used for ability. 會 also means 'will' for predictions.

  • Attaching verbal aspect markers directly to 會 (wui5).

    佢會咗嚟。
    佢會嚟。

    As a modal auxiliary verb, 會 (wui5) cannot take aspect suffixes like 咗 (zo2) or 緊 (gan2). Aspect suffixes attach only to main verbs.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

會Level 1Will / Would

Learn This First

To use '會' (will/would) effectively, a learner needs to understand basic Cantonese word order, how to negate verbs using '唔', and the conceptual difference between English-style verb tenses and Cantonese aspect/modality.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

会