会 (huì) carries two primary modal meanings: ability acquired through learning (knowing how to do something) and future probability or prediction (something will happen). This distinguishes it from 能 (néng), which expresses capacity or permission in the moment rather than learned skill or future expectation.

The traditional form 會 shows a complex structure combining "gathering" with a phonetic element - the character originally meant "to gather, to meet," a meaning preserved in 开会 (kāihuì, to hold a meeting) and 机会 (jīhuì, opportunity). Simplified to 会, it now most commonly functions as the modal "can/will" in everyday speech.