Usage of Chinese modal auxiliaries／yu zhu ci 语助词 — will, would, can, could, shall, and should. Learn Mandarin – How to say ” She is really very ignorant — she should read more. ” in Chinese. Phrases differentiation : ignorant, illiterate, uneducated. Rapper 50 cents’ ignorant remark about Japan tsunami and 年少無知 nian shao wu zhi Youth ignorance Cantonese song

Learn Mandarin – How to say ” She is really very ignorant — she ought to read more. ” in Chinese: 她真的很无知，她应该多读点儿书。Ta1 zhen1 de5 hen3 wu2 zhi1, ta1 ying1 duo1 du2 dian3 er5 shu1. Ta1 (她pronoun, she) zhen1 de5 (真的 functions as adverb, to modify hen3; zhen1 de5 means really) hen3 (很adverb, very) wu2 zhi1 (无知 adjective, ignorant or lacking in knowledge), ta1 (她 pronoun, she) ying1 gai1(应该 modal auxiliary phrase, should) duo1 (多 functions as adverb, more) du2 (读 verb, read) dian3 er5 (点 儿 adjective, a bit) shu1 (书 noun, books).

Today we are going to learn about the usage of Chinese modal auxiliaries and their English counterparts.

Modal auxiliaries, in Chinese we call them yu3 zhu4 ci2 语助词 or 助词 zhu4 ci2:
Modal auxiliaries are also called modal verbs. A modal verb is a type of auxiliary verb that is used to indicate modality — that is, likelihood, ability, permission, and obligation.

Will expresses willingness or volition. Sometimes it can be used to expresses what will happen in future time.
I ＊＊will＊＊ come.
我＊＊会＊＊来。
Wo3 hui4 lai2.

He will attend Chinese class.
他**会**上中文课。
He1 **hui4 **shang4 zhong1 wen2 ke4.

Would is the past tense of will, but it also expresses other meanings. It can mean willingness to do a hypothetical action, for example,
I ＊＊would＊＊ help you do Chinese homework if you needed help.”
Wo3 ＊＊hui4＊＊ bang1 ni3 zuo4 zhong1 wen3 gong1 ke4, ru3 guo3 ni3 xu1 yao4 bang1 mang2 de5 hua4.
我＊＊会＊＊帮你做中文功课，如果你需要帮忙的话。

Can expresses ability to do something.

I ＊＊can＊＊ cook Chinese dishes.
wo3 ＊＊neng2＊＊ zuo4 zhong1 guo2 cai4.
我＊＊能＊＊做中国菜。
or
wo3 ＊＊hui4＊＊ zuo4 zhong1 guo2 cai4.
我＊＊会＊＊做中国菜。

Could is the past of can, and is used the way would is used in a hypothetical situation, where the speaker wants to express ability instead of willingness.

I **could** have done it, but I did not do it.
Wo3 **ke3 yi3** zuo4 na4 jian4 shi4, ke3 shi4 wo3 mei2 zuo4.
我可以做那件事，可是我没做。

Could sometimes is used to make suggestions.
Example:
We ＊＊could＊＊ go to the bar, or we could go to the park.
我们＊＊可以＊＊去酒吧或者去公园。
Wo3 men2 ＊＊ke3 yi3＊＊ qu4 jiu3 ba1,huo4 zhe4 qu4 gong1 yuan2.

Shall can mean: plan to, will have to, is determined to, is obliged to, or intend to, or used interrogatively in questions, often in invitations.
You are good at singing; you ＊＊shall＊＊ sing the song.
Ni3 hen3 hui4 chang4 ge1, ni3 ＊＊ying1 gai1＊＊ chang4 zhe4 shou3 ge1.
你很会唱歌，你＊＊应该＊＊唱这首歌。

＊＊Shall＊＊ we go?
Wo3 men1 ＊＊ying1 gai1＊＊ zou3 le4 ba5?
我们＊＊应该＊＊走了吧？

Should expresses advisability–that something is a good idea. If I think you are tired, I would say：
You ＊＊should＊＊ take a rest
Ni3 ＊＊ying1 gai1 yao4＊＊ xiu1 xi2 yi2 xia4.
你**应该要**休息一下。

We can use -should- to make a prediction about some outcome we think will happen.
Example:
He ＊＊should＊＊ win the election.
Ta1＊＊ ying1 gai1 hui4＊＊ ying2 zhe4 chang3 xuan3 ju3.
他＊＊应该会＊＊赢这场选举。

Phrases differentiation : ignorant, illiterate, uneducated.
ignorant:lacking in knowledge, having no education. wu2 zhi1 无知
illiterate:unable to read and write. adjective: bu2 hui4 du2 xie3 de5,不会读写的
an illiterate person wen2 mang2 文盲
uneducated:not educated wei4 shou4 jiao4 yu4 de5 未受教育的。

Last year after the tsunami, the rapper 50 cents made some ignorant remark on Tweeter. Referring the tsunami, he wrote: “Wave will hit 8 am them crazy white boys going to try to go surfing.” He realized his own mistakes and said ” Some of my tweets are ignorant. I do it for shock value. Hate it or love it. I’m cool either way.”
Well, it is not cool to joke about other’ misery; it is cold not cool. His apology is an ignorant saying once again.

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電視劇天與地系列: 年少無知 Youth ignorance Cantonese song