能

See also: 態

能 U+80FD, 能 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-80FD ← 胼 [U+80FC] CJK Unified Ideographs 胾 → [U+80FE]

Translingual

Stroke order

Stroke order

Han character

能 (Kangxi radical 130, 肉+6, 10 strokes, cangjie input 戈月心心 (IBPP), four-corner 2121₁, composition ⿰䏍𫧇)

Derived characters

• 㑷, 𠹌, 𢟒, 㨢, 㴰, 𤠗, 褦, 㔮, 𪏛, 態, 熋, 熊, 螚, 䘅, 罷, 𨶙

References

• Kangxi Dictionary: page 981, character 16
• Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 29454
• Dae Jaweon: page 1433, character 11
• Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 3, page 2074, character 1
• Unihan data for U+80FD

Chinese

trad.		能
simp. #		能
2nd round simp.		𫧇
alternative forms		䏻 𦝕 𫧇

Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 能
Shang	Western Zhou	Spring and Autumn	Warring States			Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)	Liushutong (compiled in Ming)
Oracle bone script	Bronze inscriptions	Bronze inscriptions	Bronze inscriptions	Chu slip and silk script	Qin slip script	Small seal script	Transcribed ancient scripts

	Old Chinese
態	*n̥ʰɯːs
能	*nɯː, *nɯːs, *nɯːŋ, *nɯːŋʔ
螚	*nɯːs
褦	*nɯːs

Characters in the same phonetic series (能) (Zhengzhang, 2003) 

Pictogram (象形) : bear. Compare 熊 (OC *ɢʷlɯm, “bear”). In the character, two paws are visible as a pair of 匕 and the face with the open mouth is stylized as 月.

Etymology

"bear-like animal"

Apparently an areal word of Austroasiatic origin (Schuessler, 2007; Zhang, 2019). Compare Kharia [script needed] (bɔnɔi), Santali [script needed] (bana, “Indian black bear”) & Lepcha ᰠᰶᰍ (să-na, “bear”), a loanword from Santali.

“be able to; can; ability”

Shijing rhymes point to Old Chinese *nə, but the forms with *-ŋ are also archaic (perhaps ancient dialectal variation?).

Possibly Proto-Sino-Tibetan (which STEDT tentatively reconstructs as *m-nyaŋ (“can, be able”)): compare Tibetan ནུས (nus, “to be able to; capable; to withstand; capacity; strength; force; power; function; energy”), Burmese နိုင် (nuing, “can, be able to, may; master; win; prevail”). Schuessler (2007) also derives 態 (OC *n̥ʰɯːs, “apparition, bearing, manner”) from this; see also 忍 (OC *njɯnʔ, “to suffer, endure”).

Compare the old pre-Sino–Vietnamese loanword nổi (“be able to; capable”).

Pronunciation 1

Variety	Location	edit 能
Mandarin	Beijing	/nəŋ³⁵/
	Harbin	/nəŋ²⁴/
	Tianjin	/nəŋ⁴⁵/
	Jinan	/nəŋ⁴²/
	Qingdao	/nəŋ⁴²/
	Zhengzhou	/nəŋ⁴²/
	Xi'an	/nəŋ²⁴/
	Xining	/nə̃²⁴/
	Yinchuan	/nəŋ⁴⁴/ 打～～ /nəŋ⁵³/ ～幹
	Lanzhou	/lə̃n⁵³/
	Ürümqi	/nɤŋ⁵¹/
	Wuhan	/nən²¹³/
	Chengdu	/nən³¹/
	Guiyang	/nen²¹/
	Kunming	/nə̃³¹/
	Nanjing	/lən²⁴/
	Hefei	/lən⁵⁵/
Jin	Taiyuan	/nəŋ¹¹/
	Pingyao	/nəŋ¹³/
	Hohhot	/nə̃ŋ³¹/
Wu	Shanghai	/nəŋ²³/
	Suzhou	/nən¹³/
	Hangzhou	/nen²¹³/
	Wenzhou	/naŋ³¹/
Hui	Shexian	/lʌ̃⁴⁴/
	Tunxi	/lɛ⁴⁴/
Xiang	Changsha	/lən¹³/
	Xiangtan	/nən¹²/
Gan	Nanchang	/lɛn⁴⁵/
Hakka	Meixian	/nen¹¹/
	Taoyuan	/nen¹¹/
Cantonese	Guangzhou	/nɐŋ²¹/
	Nanning	/nɐŋ²¹/
	Hong Kong	/nɐŋ²¹/
Min	Xiamen (Hokkien)	/liŋ³⁵/
	Fuzhou (Eastern Min)	/nɛiŋ⁵³/
	Jian'ou (Northern Min)	/naiŋ²¹/
	Shantou (Teochew)	/leŋ⁵⁵/
	Haikou (Hainanese)	/neŋ³¹/ /nɔŋ³¹/

Rime
Character	能
Reading #	2/4
Initial (聲)	泥 (8)
Final (韻)	登 (129)
Tone (調)	Level (Ø)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	I
Fanqie	奴登切
Baxter	nong
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/nəŋ/
Pan Wuyun	/nəŋ/
Shao Rongfen	/nəŋ/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/nəŋ/
Li Rong	/nəŋ/
Wang Li	/nəŋ/
Bernhard Karlgren	/nəŋ/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	néng
Expected Cantonese Reflex	nang4

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	能	能	能
Reading #	1/3	2/3	3/3
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	néng	néng	néng
Middle Chinese	‹ noj ›	‹ nong ›	‹ nong ›
Old Chinese	/*nˁə/	/*nˁə(ŋ)/	/*nˁə(ʔ)/ (~ *nˁəŋ)
English	a kind of bear	a kind of bear	able; ability
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	能
Reading #	3/4
No.	9415
Phonetic component	能
Rime group	蒸
Rime subdivision	0
Corresponding MC rime	能
Old Chinese	/*nɯːŋ/

• Mandarin

  (Standard)

  (Pinyin): néng (neng²)

  (Zhuyin): ㄋㄥˊ

  (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): nen²

  (Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): нын (nɨn, I)

• Cantonese

  (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): nang⁴

  (Taishan, Wiktionary): nang³

• Gan (Wiktionary): len⁴
• Hakka

  (Sixian, PFS): nèn

  (Meixian, Guangdong): nên²

• Jin (Wiktionary): neng¹
• Northern Min (KCR): nǎing
• Eastern Min (BUC): nèng
• Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): neng²
• Southern Min

  (Hokkien, POJ): lêng / nn̂g

  (Teochew, Peng'im): lêng⁵ / nêng⁵

• Wu (Northern, Wugniu): ⁶nen / ²nen
• Xiang (Changsha, Wiktionary): len²

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: néng
    • Zhuyin: ㄋㄥˊ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: néng
    • Wade–Giles: nêng²
    • Yale: néng
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: neng
    • Palladius: нэн (nɛn)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /nɤŋ³⁵/
  • (Chengdu)
    • Sichuanese Pinyin: nen²
    • Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: len
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /nən²¹/
  • (Dungan)
    • Cyrillic and Wiktionary: нын (nɨn, I)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /nəŋ²⁴/

    (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)

• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
    • Jyutping: nang⁴
    • Yale: nàhng
    • Cantonese Pinyin: nang⁴
    • Guangdong Romanization: neng⁴
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /nɐŋ²¹/
  • (Taishanese, Taicheng)
    • Wiktionary: nang³
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ⁿdaŋ²²/
• Gan
  • (Nanchang)
    • Wiktionary: len⁴
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /lɛn³⁵/
• Hakka
  • (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
    • Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: nèn
    • Hakka Romanization System: nen^ˇ
    • Hagfa Pinyim: nen²
    • Sinological IPA: /nen¹¹/
  • (Meixian)
    • Guangdong: nên²
    • Sinological IPA: /nɛn¹¹/
• Jin
  • (Taiyuan)⁺
    • Wiktionary: neng¹
    • Sinological IPA (old-style): /nəŋ¹¹/
• Northern Min
  • (Jian'ou)
    • Kienning Colloquial Romanized: nǎing
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /naiŋ²¹/
• Eastern Min
  • (Fuzhou)
    • Bàng-uâ-cê: nèng
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /nˡɛiŋ⁵³/
• Puxian Min
  • (Putian, Xianyou)
    • Pouseng Ping'ing: neng²
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /nɛŋ¹³/
• Southern Min
  • (Hokkien: Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Jinjiang, General Taiwanese)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: lêng
    • Tâi-lô: lîng
    • Phofsit Daibuun: leeng
    • IPA (Kaohsiung): /liɪŋ²³/
    • IPA (Xiamen, Jinjiang, Taipei): /liɪŋ²⁴/
    • IPA (Zhangzhou): /liɪŋ¹³/
  • (Hokkien: Quanzhou, Jinjiang, Philippines)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: nn̂g
    • Tâi-lô: nn̂g
    • Phofsit Daibuun: nngg
    • IPA (Quanzhou, Jinjiang, Philippines): /nŋ̍²⁴/
  • (Teochew)
    • Peng'im: lêng⁵ / nêng⁵
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: lêng / nêng
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /leŋ⁵⁵/, /neŋ⁵⁵/

Note: nêng5 - Jieyang.

• Wu
  • (Northern: Shanghai)
    • Wugniu: ⁶nen
    • MiniDict: nen^去
    • Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ³nen
    • Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /nən²³/
  • (Northern: Suzhou)
    • Wugniu: ²nen
    • MiniDict: nen^平
    • Sinological IPA (Suzhou): /nən²²³/
• Xiang
  • (Changsha)
    • Wiktionary: len²
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /lən¹³/

---

• Dialectal data

---

• Middle Chinese: nong

• Old Chinese

  (Baxter–Sagart): /*nˤə/, /*nˤə(ŋ)/, /*nˤə(ʔ)/

  (Zhengzhang): /*nɯːŋ/

Definitions

能

1. (obsolete) a kind of bear
2. ^† (Chinese mythology) A mythological bear-like animal, with deer-like legs.
3. able; capable
4. can; to be able to; to be capable of; to be allowed to

   我能跑得很快。  ―  Wǒ néng pǎo de hěn kuài.  ―  I can run fast.

   有人能幫我嗎？／有人能帮我吗？  ―  Yǒu rén néng bāng wǒ ma?  ―  Is there anybody who can help me?

   漲潮時你不能在這個海灘散步。 [MSC, trad.]
   涨潮时你不能在这个海滩散步。 [MSC, simp.]

   Zhàngcháo shí nǐ bù néng zài zhège hǎitān sànbù. [Pinyin]

   You can't walk along this beach at high tide.

   公共場所不能吸煙。 [MSC, trad.]
   公共场所不能吸烟。 [MSC, simp.]

   Gōnggòngchǎngsuǒ bùnéng xīyān. [Pinyin]

   You’re not allowed to smoke in public.

5. to successfully do something (negate with 沒／没 (méi))

   你能進入這所大學讀書，全靠你父母的關係。 [MSC, trad.]
   你能进入这所大学读书，全靠你父母的关系。 [MSC, simp.]

   Nǐ néng jìnrù zhè suǒ dàxué dúshū, quán kào nǐ fùmǔ de guānxì. [Pinyin]

   You were able to study at this university all because of your parents.

   他沒能趕上末班車。 [MSC, trad.]
   他没能赶上末班车。 [MSC, simp.]

   Tā méi néng gǎnshàng mòbānchē. [Pinyin]

   He didn't manage to catch the last train.

6. (dialectal) cocky

   看把你能的。  ―  Kàn bǎ nǐ néng de.  ―  (please add an English translation of this usage example)

7. may; could

   能不能請你幫個忙？ [MSC, trad.]
   能不能请你帮个忙？ [MSC, simp.]

   Néng bù néng qǐng nǐ bāng ge máng? [Pinyin]

   May I ask a favour of you?

   你能再說一遍嗎？ [MSC, trad.]
   你能再说一遍吗？ [MSC, simp.]

   Nǐ néng zài shuō yībiàn ma? [Pinyin]

   Could you repeat that?

8. rather; would rather
9. ability; capability

   能力  ―  nénglì  ―  capability, ability

   無能／无能  ―  wúnéng  ―  incompetent

10. talent; talented person

    才能  ―  cáinéng  ―  talent, ability

11. energy; power

    太陽能／太阳能  ―  tàiyángnéng  ―  solar energy

    水能  ―  shuǐnéng  ―  hydroelectric power

    動能／动能  ―  dòngnéng  ―  kinetic energy

12. (Sujiahu Wu, Wenzhounese, Jinhua and Quzhou Wu) way; manner

    搿能 [Shanghainese]  ―  ⁸geq-nen [Wugniu]  ―  like this (lit. in this way)

    好好能走 [Shanghainese]  ―  ⁵hau-hau-nen-tseu [Wugniu]  ―  to walk properly

    慢慢能吃 [Wenzhounese]  ―  ma₆-ma₆-nan₂-chiai₇ [Wugniu]  ―  to eat slowly

13. a surname

Synonyms

Variety	Location	Words edit
Classical Chinese		能
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)		能, 能夠, 可以
Northeastern Mandarin	Taiwan	能, 能夠, 可以
	Malaysia	能
	Singapore	能, 能夠, 可以
Cantonese	Hong Kong	可以
Hakka	Kuching (Hepo)	得
Eastern Min	Singapore (Fuqing)	會
Southern Min	Penang (Hokkien)	會, 會使
	Singapore (Hokkien)	會, 會使
	Manila (Hokkien)	會, 會通
Zhongshan Min	Zhongshan (Longdu, Shaxi)	得, 可以
Wu	Shanghai	好
	Suzhou	好
	Ningbo	好

Dialectal synonyms of 能 (“can”) [map]

Compounds

• 一專多能／一专多能 (yīzhuānduōnéng)
• 一次能源 (yīcì néngyuán)
• 不付能
• 不付能勾
• 不可能 (bùkěnéng)
• 不學而能／不学而能
• 不甫能
• 不甫能勾
• 不相能
• 不能 (bùnéng)
• 不能不 (bùnéngbù)
• 不能出口
• 不能勝數／不能胜数
• 不能勾
• 不能彀
• 不能為／不能为
• 不能盡數／不能尽数
• 不能自休
• 不能自免
• 不能自制
• 不能自已 (bùnéngzìyǐ)
• 不能自拔 (bùnéngzìbá)
• 不能自給／不能自给
• 二次能源 (èrcì néngyuán)
• 付能
• 何德何能 (hédéhénéng)
• 位能 (wèinéng)
• 低能 (dīnéng)
• 低能兒／低能儿 (dīnéng'ér)
• 傳播功能／传播功能 (chuánbō gōngnéng)
• 光能
• 充能幹／充能干
• 全知全能
• 全能 (quánnéng)
• 全能生產／全能生产
• 全能運動／全能运动
• 再生能源 (zàishēng néngyuán)
• 冷能
• 判斷能力／判断能力
• 副能
• 力所能及 (lìsuǒnéngjí)
• 功能 (gōngnéng)
• 功能團體／功能团体 (gōngnéng tuántǐ)
• 動能／动能 (dòngnéng)
• 勢能／势能 (shìnéng)
• 勤能補拙／勤能补拙 (qínnéngbǔzhuō)
• 化學能／化学能 (huàxuénéng)
• 十項全能／十项全能 (shíxiàng quánnéng)
• 南能北秀
• 原子能 (yuánzǐnéng)
• 口能
• 口能舌便
• 可能 (kěnéng)
• 只能 (zhǐnéng)
• 可能性 (kěnéngxìng)
• 各盡所能／各尽所能
• 國能／国能
• 多功能廳／多功能厅 (duōgōngnéngtīng)
• 多能
• 大能 (dànéng)
• 太陽能／太阳能 (tàiyángnéng)
• 太陽能房／太阳能房
• 奇才異能／奇才异能
• 妨功害能
• 妒能害賢／妒能害贤
• 妒賢嫉能／妒贤嫉能
• 妒賢疾能／妒贤疾能
• 嫉賢妒能／嫉贤妒能
• 安能 (ānnéng)
• 官能 (guānnéng)
• 官能交錯／官能交错
• 寢不能寐／寝不能寐
• 尊賢使能／尊贤使能
• 幾能勾／几能勾
• 庸碌無能／庸碌无能
• 廉能
• 彈性勢能／弹性势能 (tánxìng shìnéng)
• 復氧能力／复氧能力
• 德薄能鮮／德薄能鲜
• 志能之士
• 性無能／性无能 (xìngwúnéng)
• 性能 (xìngnéng)
• 意思能力
• 愛莫能助／爱莫能助 (àimònéngzhù)
• 慈故能勇
• 慎謀能斷／慎谋能断
• 慧能 (Huìnéng)
• 憂能傷人／忧能伤人
• 才能 (cáinéng)
• 才能幹濟／才能干济
• 技能 (jìnéng)
• 技能檢定／技能检定
• 技能競賽／技能竞赛
• 推賢讓能／推贤让能
• 推賢遜能／推贤逊能
• 效能 (xiàonéng)
• 智盡能索／智尽能索
• 智能 (zhìnéng)
• 智能不足
• 智能權／智能权
• 智能犯罪
• 智能遲滯／智能迟滞
• 替代能源
• 會道能說／会道能说
• 本能 (běnnéng)
• 未能免俗
• 材能兼備／材能兼备
• 核子能
• 核能 (hénéng)
• 核能廢料／核能废料
• 核能潛艇／核能潜艇
• 核能發電／核能发电
• 核能電廠／核能电厂
• 概莫能外 (gàimònéngwài)
• 機械能／机械能 (jīxiènéng)
• 機能／机能 (jīnéng)
• 權能／权能 (quánnéng)
• 權能區分／权能区分
• 欲罷不能／欲罢不能
• 水能 (shuǐnéng)
• 活化能 (huóhuànéng)
• 海洋能
• 潛能／潜能 (qiánnéng)
• 焉能 (yānnéng)
• 無所不能／无所不能 (wúsuǒbùnéng)
• 無能／无能 (wúnéng)
• 無能為力／无能为力 (wúnéngwéilì)
• 無能為役／无能为役
• 熟能生巧 (shúnéngshēngqiǎo)
• 特殊才能
• 特異功能／特异功能 (tèyì gōngnéng)
• 甄才品能
• 生物潛能／生物潜能
• 生物能 (shēngwùnéng)
• 生產能力／生产能力
• 產能／产能 (chǎnnéng)
• 用賢任能／用贤任能
• 異能／异能 (yìnéng)
• 登高能賦／登高能赋
• 百無一能／百无一能
• 盡可能／尽可能
• 矜名嫉能
• 矜智負能／矜智负能
• 矜能負才／矜能负才
• 知盡能索／知尽能索
• 知能
• 知錯能改／知错能改 (zhīcuònénggǎi)
• 碌碌無能／碌碌无能
• 磁能 (cínéng)
• 萬能／万能 (wànnéng)
• 萬能膠／万能胶 (wànnéngjiāo)
• 萬能鑰匙／万能钥匙 (wànnéng yàoshi)
• 稟能／禀能
• 稱賢薦能／称贤荐能
• 積不相能／积不相能 (jībùxiāngnéng)
• 節約能源／节约能源
• 節能／节能 (jiénéng)
• 簡能／简能
• 粥粥無能／粥粥无能
• 精明能幹／精明能干
• 老嫗能解／老妪能解
• 耗能
• 耳熟能詳／耳熟能详 (ěrshúnéngxiáng)
• 職能／职能 (zhínéng)
• 職能治療／职能治疗 (zhínéng zhìliáo)
• 聽能／听能
• 肝功能 (gāngōngnéng)
• 肺功能 (fèigōngnéng)
• 能不
• 能事
• 能亨
• 能人 (néngrén)
• 能仁 (Néngrén)
• 能免則免／能免则免 (néngmiǎnzémiǎn)
• 能劇／能剧 (néngjù)
• 能力 (nénglì)
• 能力分班
• 能力刑
• 能力測驗／能力测验
• 能動／能动 (néngdòng)
• 能勾 (nénggòu)
• 能可
• 能吏
• 能名
• 能否 (néngfǒu)
• 能品
• 能員／能员
• 能士
• 能夠／能够 (nénggòu)
• 能屈能伸
• 能工巧匠
• 能幹／能干 (nénggàn)
• 能彀 (nénggòu)
• 能忍自安
• 能手 (néngshǒu)
• 能文善武
• 能束
• 能樣／能样
• 能樂／能乐 (néngyuè)
• 能歌擅舞
• 能源 (néngyuán)
• 能源危機／能源危机
• 能源效益
• 能為／能为 (néngwéi)
• 能牙利爪 (néngyálìzhǎo)
• 能率 (nénglǜ)
• 能者多勞／能者多劳 (néngzhěduōláo)
• 能者為師／能者为师
• 能耐 (néngnài)
• 能耗 (nénghào)
• 能臣 (néngchén)
• 能見度／能见度 (néngjiàndù)
• 能言 (néngyán)
• 能言善辯／能言善辩 (néngyánshànbiàn)
• 能言善道
• 能言快語／能言快语
• 能言慣道／能言惯道
• 能言舌辯／能言舌辩
• 能言鳥／能言鸟 (néngyánniǎo)
• 能說善道／能说善道
• 能說慣道／能说惯道
• 能說會道／能说会道 (néngshuōhuìdào)
• 能近取譬
• 能量 (néngliàng)
• 能願動詞／能愿动词 (néngyuàndòngcí)
• 能高山
• 自由能 (zìyóunéng)
• 舉賢任能／举贤任能
• 舉賢使能／举贤使能
• 良知良能
• 良能
• 薦賢任能／荐贤任能
• 薦賢舉能／荐贤举能
• 藝能／艺能
• 行為能力／行为能力 (xíngwéi nénglì)
• 行能
• 褊能
• 誇能鬥智／夸能斗智
• 豈能／岂能 (qǐnéng)
• 賢能／贤能 (xiánnéng)
• 超能力 (chāonénglì)
• 輻射能／辐射能
• 逞強稱能／逞强称能
• 逞異誇能／逞异夸能
• 逞能 (chěngnéng)
• 進賢任能／进贤任能
• 過而能改／过而能改
• 運能／运能
• 選賢任能／选贤任能
• 選賢與能／选贤与能
• 重力位能
• 量能課稅／量能课税
• 金錢萬能／金钱万能
• 雖覆能復／虽覆能复
• 雙手萬能／双手万能
• 難能／难能
• 難能可貴／难能可贵 (nánnéngkěguì)
• 電能／电能 (diànnéng)
• 風能／风能 (fēngnéng)
• 騁能／骋能
• 體能／体能 (tǐnéng)
• 高能 (gāonéng)

 

Pronunciation 2

Rime
Character	能
Reading #	4/4
Initial (聲)	泥 (8)
Final (韻)	咍 (41)
Tone (調)	Departing (H)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	I
Fanqie	奴代切
Baxter	nojH
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/nʌiH/
Pan Wuyun	/nəiH/
Shao Rongfen	/nɒiH/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/nəjH/
Li Rong	/nᴀiH/
Wang Li	/nɒiH/
Bernhard Karlgren	/nɑ̆iH/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	nài
Expected Cantonese Reflex	noi6

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	能
Reading #	2/4
No.	9413
Phonetic component	能
Rime group	之
Rime subdivision	0
Corresponding MC rime	耐
Old Chinese	/*nɯːs/

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): nài (nai⁴)

  (Zhuyin): ㄋㄞˋ

• Cantonese (Jyutping): noi⁶
• Wu (Shanghai, Wugniu): ⁶ne

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: nài
    • Zhuyin: ㄋㄞˋ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: nài
    • Wade–Giles: nai⁴
    • Yale: nài
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: nay
    • Palladius: най (naj)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /naɪ̯⁵¹/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
    • Jyutping: noi⁶
    • Yale: noih
    • Cantonese Pinyin: noi⁶
    • Guangdong Romanization: noi⁶
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /nɔːi̯²²/
• Wu
  • (Northern: Shanghai)
    • Wugniu: ⁶ne
    • MiniDict: ne^去
    • Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ³ne
    • Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /ne²³/

---

• Middle Chinese: nojH

• Old Chinese

  (Zhengzhang): /*nɯːs/

Definitions

能

1. ^† Alternative form of 耐 (“to bear; to withstand”)
2. a surname

Pronunciation 3

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): tái (tai²)

  (Zhuyin): ㄊㄞˊ

• Cantonese (Jyutping): toi⁴

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: tái
    • Zhuyin: ㄊㄞˊ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: tái
    • Wade–Giles: tʻai²
    • Yale: tái
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: tair
    • Palladius: тай (taj)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /tʰaɪ̯³⁵/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
    • Jyutping: toi⁴
    • Yale: tòih
    • Cantonese Pinyin: toi⁴
    • Guangdong Romanization: toi⁴
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /tʰɔːi̯²¹/

Definitions

能

1. ^† Alternative form of 台 (“name of a Chinese constellation”)

   三能  ―  sāntái  ―  Santai (Chinese constellation)

Pronunciation 4

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): tài (tai⁴)

  (Zhuyin): ㄊㄞˋ

• Cantonese (Jyutping): taai³

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: tài
    • Zhuyin: ㄊㄞˋ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: tài
    • Wade–Giles: tʻai⁴
    • Yale: tài
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: tay
    • Palladius: тай (taj)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /tʰaɪ̯⁵¹/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
    • Jyutping: taai³
    • Yale: taai
    • Cantonese Pinyin: taai³
    • Guangdong Romanization: tai³
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /tʰaːi̯³³/

Definitions

能

1. ^† Alternative form of 態／态 (tài, “bearing; apparition; form; shape; status; position”)

Pronunciation 5

Rime
Character	能
Reading #	1/4
Initial (聲)	泥 (8)
Final (韻)	咍 (41)
Tone (調)	Level (Ø)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	I
Fanqie	奴來切
Baxter	noj
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/nʌi/
Pan Wuyun	/nəi/
Shao Rongfen	/nɒi/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/nəj/
Li Rong	/nᴀi/
Wang Li	/nɒi/
Bernhard Karlgren	/nɑ̆i/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	nái
Expected Cantonese Reflex	noi4

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	能
Reading #	1/3
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	néng
Middle Chinese	‹ noj ›
Old Chinese	/*nˁə/
English	a kind of bear
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	能
Reading #	1/4
No.	9411
Phonetic component	能
Rime group	之
Rime subdivision	0
Corresponding MC rime	能
Old Chinese	/*nɯː/

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): nái (nai²)

  (Zhuyin): ㄋㄞˊ

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: nái
    • Zhuyin: ㄋㄞˊ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: nái
    • Wade–Giles: nai²
    • Yale: nái
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: nai
    • Palladius: най (naj)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /naɪ̯³⁵/

---

• Middle Chinese: noj

• Old Chinese

  (Baxter–Sagart): /*nˤə/

  (Zhengzhang): /*nɯː/

Definitions

能

1. (obsolete) mythical three-legged soft-shelled turtle

   • 觀鯀之治水無有形狀，乃殛鯀于羽山。鯀投于水，化為黃能，因為羽淵之神。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     观鲧之治水无有形状，乃殛鲧于羽山。鲧投于水，化为黄能，因为羽渊之神。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: 趙曄 (Zhao Ye) 《吳越春秋》 "Wuyue Chunqiu"

     Guān gǔn zhī zhìshuǐ wú yǒu xíngzhuàng, nǎi jí gǔn yú yǔshān. Gǔn tóu yú shuǐ, huà wèi huángnái, yīn wèi yǔyuān zhī shén. [Pinyin]

     [Shun] saw that Gun's flood-taming had been in vain, so Gun was imprisoned for life in Yu Mountain. Gun threw himself into the water, and became a yellow three-legged soft-shelled turtle, and he therefore became the god of Yu abyss.

Compounds

• 三足能
• 黃能／黄能

 

Pronunciation 6

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): tāi, tái (tai¹, tai²)

  (Zhuyin): ㄊㄞ, ㄊㄞˊ

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: tāi
    • Zhuyin: ㄊㄞ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: tai
    • Wade–Giles: tʻai¹
    • Yale: tāi
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: tai
    • Palladius: тай (taj)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /tʰaɪ̯⁵⁵/
      
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: tái
    • Zhuyin: ㄊㄞˊ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: tái
    • Wade–Giles: tʻai²
    • Yale: tái
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: tair
    • Palladius: тай (taj)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /tʰaɪ̯³⁵/

Definitions

能

1. ^† Only used in 能始 (tāishǐ, “origin; root cause”).

Pronunciation 7

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): xióng (xiong²)

  (Zhuyin): ㄒㄩㄥˊ

• Cantonese (Jyutping): hung⁴

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: xióng
    • Zhuyin: ㄒㄩㄥˊ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: syóng
    • Wade–Giles: hsiung²
    • Yale: syúng
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: shyong
    • Palladius: сюн (sjun)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
    • Jyutping: hung⁴
    • Yale: hùhng
    • Cantonese Pinyin: hung⁴
    • Guangdong Romanization: hung⁴
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /hʊŋ²¹/

Definitions

能

1. ^† Alternative form of 熊 (xióng, “bear”)

References

• “能”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎, 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014–
• Dictionary of Chinese Character Variants (教育部異體字字典), A03329

Japanese

Noh stage at Itsukushima Shrine, Miyajima, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.

Kanji

See also:

Category:Japanese terms spelled with 能

能

(Fifth grade kyōiku kanji)

1. ability
2. talent
3. skill
4. capacity

Readings

• Go-on: のう (nō, Jōyō)、の (no)、ない (nai)
• Kan-on: どう (dō)、だい (dai)
• Kan’yō-on: たい (tai)
• Kun: あたう (atau, 能う)、よく (yoku, 能く)、よくする (yokusuru, 能くする)
• Nanori: たか (taka)、の (no)、のり (nori)、よし (yoshi)

Compounds

• 能(のう)動(どう) (nōdō): being active
• 能(のう)率(りつ) (nōritsu)
• 能(のう)力(りょく) (nōryoku): ability
• 可(か)能(のう) (kanō): possible
• 機(き)能(のう) (kinō)
• 技(ぎ)能(のう) (ginō)
• 芸(げい)能(のう) (geinō)
• 効(こう)能(のう) (kōnō)
• 才(さい)能(のう) (sainō)
• 性(せい)能(のう) (seinō)
• 堪(たん)能(のう) (tannō)
• 知(ち)能(のう) (chinō)
• 万(ばん)能(のう) (bannō)
• 不(ふ)能(のう) (funō)
• 本(ほん)能(のう) (honnō)
• 無(む)能(のう) (munō)
• 有(ゆう)能(のう) (yūnō)

Noun

 能 on Japanese Wikipedia

 Noh on Wikipedia

能(のう) • (nō) 

1. Noh, a form of classical Japanese musical drama.
2. ability, capacity, aptitude.
3. effect, use.

   古(ふる)い議(ぎ)論(ろん)を繰(く)り返(かえ)しても能(のう)はないのだよ。

   Furui giron o kurikaeshite mo nō wa nai no da yo.

   Repeating old arguments isn't of any use / won't have any effect.

Synonyms

• (drama): 能(のう)楽(がく) (nōgaku)

Korean

Etymology 1

From Middle Chinese 能 (MC nong).

Historical readings

• Recorded as Middle Korean 느ᇰ (Yale: nung) in Dongguk Jeongun (東國正韻 / 동국정운), 1448.
• Recorded as Middle Korean 느ᇰ (nung)^訓 (Yale: nung) in Hunmong Jahoe (訓蒙字會 / 훈몽자회), 1527.
• Recorded as Middle Korean 릉 (lung)^訓 (Yale: lung) in Sinjeung Yuhap (新增類合 / 신증유합), 1576.

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [nɯŋ]
• Phonetic hangul: [능]

Hanja

Korean Wikisource has texts containing the hanja:

能

Wikisource 能 (eumhun 능할 능 (neunghal neung))

1. hanja form^? of 능 (“ability”)

Compounds

Compounds

• 능력 (能力, neungnyeok)
• 가능 (可能, ganeung)
• 기능 (機能, gineung)
• 수능 (修能, suneung)
• 기능 (技能, gineung)
• 무능 (無能, muneung)
• 재능 (才能, jaeneung)
• 능률 (能率, neungnyul)
• 지능 (知能, jineung)
• 능동 (能動, neungdong)
• 능숙 (能熟, neungsuk)
• 유능 (有能, yuneung)
• 불능 (不能, bulleung)
• 성능 (性能, seongneung)
• 능사 (能事, neungsa)
• 역능 (力能, yeongneung)
• 만능 (萬能, manneung)
• 효능 (效能, hyoneung)
• 직능 (職能, jingneung)
• 예능 (藝能, yeneung)
• 본능 (本能, bonneung)
• 지능 (智能, jineung)
• 능란 (能爛, neungnan)
• 능변 (能辯, neungbyeon)
• 권능 (權能, gwonneung)
• 능관 (能觀, neunggwan)
• 체능 (體能, cheneung)
• 능통 (能通, neungtong)
• 다능 (多能, daneung)
• 감능 (堪能, gamneung)
• 능간 (能幹, neunggan)
• 관능 (官能, gwanneung)
• 능필 (能筆, neungpil)
• 능성 (能聲, neungseong)
• 예체능 (藝體能, yecheneung)
• 방사능 (放射能, bangsaneung)

Etymology 2

Related to Middle Chinese 耐 (MC nojH).

Hanja

能 (eumhun 견딜 내 (gyeondil nae))

1. (literary Chinese) Alternative form of 耐 (“hanja form^? of 내 (“endure; withstand”)”)

References

• 국제퇴계학회 대구경북지부 (國際退溪學會 大邱慶北支部) (2007). Digital Hanja Dictionary, 전자사전／電子字典.

Old Japanese

Etymology

From Middle Chinese 能 (MC nong).

Phonogram

能 (no₂)

1. Denotes phonographic syllable no₂.

   Synonym: 乃

Further reading

• Miyake (2003) p. 33-34

Vietnamese

Han character

能: Hán Nôm readings: năng, hay, nấng, năn, nằng, nưng

1. This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.