Modal Verbs: 會, 袂, 會當 and 會使

01

會當 — Being Able To

會當 (ē-tàngē-tànge7-tang3) is the everyday can: circumstances allow it, or you are physically able. It is the one to reach for if you are unsure.

• 你敢會當看著我？

  lí kám ē-tàng khuànn --tio̍h guálí kám ē-tàng khoàⁿ --tio̍h góali2 kam2 e7-tang3 khuann3 --tioh8 gua2

  Can you see me?

• 你敢會當拍開這个罐仔？

  lí kám ē-tàng phah khui tsit ê kuàn-álí kám ē-tàng phah khui chit ê koàn-áli2 kam2 e7-tang3 phah4 khui1 tsit4 e5 kuan3-a2

  Can you open this jar?

• 我會當閣歇一下。

  guá ē-tàng koh hioh tsi̍t-ēgóa ē-tàng koh hioh chi̍t-ēgua2 e7-tang3 koh4 hioh4 tsit8-e7

  I can stay a little longer.

• 是啊，有啥物我會當鬥相共的無？

  sī-ah ū siánn-mih guá ē-tàng tàu-sann-kāng ê --bôsī-ah ū siáⁿ-mih góa ē-tàng tàu-saⁿ-kāng ê --bôsi7-ah4 u7 siann2-mih4 gua2 e7-tang3 tau3-sann1-kang7 e5 --bo5

  Yes — is there anything I can help with?

02

會使 — Being Allowed To

會使 (ē-sáiē-sáie7-sai2) is about permission rather than ability — closer to may. It is the polite way to ask someone to agree to something, which is why it turns up when bargaining.

• 會使較俗無？

  ē-sái khah sio̍k --bôē-sái khah sio̍k --bôe7-sai2 khah4 siok8 --bo5

  Could it be a bit cheaper?

03

會 — Likelihood and Future

A bare 會 (ēēe7) says something is likely, tends to happen, or simply will happen. This is the nearest Taiwanese comes to a future tense, and it is about expectation rather than timing.

• 阮的產品會解決你所有的問題。

  guán-ê sán-phín ē kái-kuat lí sóo-ū ê būn-têgoán-ê sán-phín ē kái-koat lí só͘-ū ê būn-têguan2-e5 san2-phin2 e7 kai2-kuat4 li2 soo2-u7 e5 bun7-te5

  Our product will solve all your problems.

• 敢會疼？

  kám ē thiànnkám ē thiàⁿkam2 e7 thiann3

  Does it hurt? (will it, if you do that)

It is also buried inside a few fixed expressions where the sense of expectation has worn away.

• 哪會按呢？

  ná ē án-nená ē án-nena2 e7 an2-ne1

  How come?

04

袂 — The Negative of All of Them

袂 (bēbēbe7) negates this whole family: cannot, will not, is not likely to. Note that it does NOT become 無會當 (bô ē-tàngbô ē-tàngbo5 e7-tang3) — the negation is built into 袂 (bēbēbe7) itself, and using 無 (bôbôbo5) with a modal is a mistake.

• 看起來袂䆀。

  khuànn --khí-lâi bē báikhoàⁿ --khí-lâi bē báikhuann3 --khi2-lai5 be7 bai2

  It doesn't look bad.

05

應該 and 通

應該 (ìng-kaièng-kaiing3-kai1) is should, ought to. 通 (thangthangthang1) means may, be free to and typically follows a statement of what makes the action possible.

• 我感覺物食就應該愛薟。

  guá kám-kak mi̍h-tsia̍h tō ìng-kai ài hiamgóa kám-kak mi̍h-chia̍h tō èng-kai ài hiamgua2 kam2-kak4 mih8-tsiah8 to7 ing3-kai1 ai3 hiam1

  I think food should be spicy.

• 我有夠額的錢通買車。

  guá ū kàu-gia̍h ê tsînn thang bé tshiagóa ū kàu-gia̍h ê chîⁿ thang bé chhiagua2 u7 kau3-giah8 e5 tsinn5 thang1 be2 tshia1

  I have enough money to buy a car.

06

Asking With a Modal

Modals combine with either question strategy — 敢 (kámkámkam2) in front, or 無 (--bô--bô--bo5) at the end — and the answer echoes the modal itself rather than using a word for yes.