能 néng able to
able to; can; may
How it came to be
A bear: the head at the top left, the body, and the paws down the right. It was borrowed for being able, so the bear needed a fire under it to get its own character.
How it is used
- Can - able, or allowed by the situation - 你能来吗? (nǐ néng lái ma?) can you make it? 不能 (bù néng) may not / can't.
- About possibility or capacity, not a learned skill - use 会 (huì) for skills like speaking a language, 能 for being in a position to do something.
- 能力 (nénglì) ability and 可能 (kěnéng) possible build on it.
Characters built with 能
Words with 能
- 可能kěnéngpossibleHSK 2
- 只能zhǐnéngcan onlyHSK 3
- 能力nénglìcapabilityHSK 4
- 能否néngfǒuwhether or notHSK 4
- 能够nénggòuto be capable ofHSK 4
- 功能gōngnéngfunctionHSK 5
- 技能jìnéngtechnical abilityHSK 5
- 智能zhìnéngintelligentHSK 5
- 能干nénggàncapableHSK 5
- 人工智能réngōngzhìnéngartificial intelligence (AI)HSK 6
- 太阳能tàiyángnéngsolar energyHSK 6
- 性能xìngnéngfunctionHSK 6
- 才能cáinéngtalentHSK 6
- 新能源xīnnéngyuánnew energyHSK 6
- 本能běnnénginstinctHSK 6
- 能源néngyuánenergy sourcesHSK 6
- 能量néngliàngenergyHSK 6
- 节能jiénéngto conserve energyHSK 6
- 万能wànnéngomnipotentHSK 7
- 体能tǐnéngphysical capabilityHSK 7
- 全能quánnéngomnipotentHSK 7
- 力所能及lìsuǒnéngjías far as one's capabilities extend (idiom)HSK 7
- 无能wúnéngincompetenceHSK 7
- 无能为力wúnéngwéilìpowerless to do anything about itHSK 7
- 正能量zhèngnéngliàngpositive energyHSK 7
- 耳熟能详ěrshú-néngxiángwhat's frequently heard can be repeated in detailHSK 7
- 职能zhínéngfunctionHSK 7
- 能人néngréncapable personHSK 7
- 能耐néngnaiabilityHSK 7
- 难能可贵nánnéng-kěguìrare and preciousHSK 7
- 核能hénéngnuclear energyHSK 9
- 潜能qiánnéngpotentialHSK 9
- 能耗nénghàoenergy consumptionHSK 9
Example sentences
- 你能说汉语吗？ Nǐ néng shuō Hànyǔ ma?Can you speak Chinese?
- 我能从一数到十。 Wǒ néng cóng yī shǔ dào shí.I can count from one to ten.
- 你一定能适应新工作。 Nǐ yídìng néng shìyìng xīn gōngzuò.You should surely be able to adapt yourself to the new work.
- 不同的颜色一眼就能区别出来。 Bùtóng de yánsè yīyǎn jiù néng qūbié chūlái.You can differentiate between different colors with one glance.