能 Stroke Order — How to Write 能
能 is written in 10 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical ⺼, then complete the remaining strokes.
Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.
能 Radical and Character Components
能 is a pictograph. A bear's head 厶, body ⺼, and claws 匕.
Radical: ⺼ + 6 more strokes
能 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- néng
- nài
Meanings of 能 in Chinese
1
néng能
Ability; capability; talent.
他很有才能，把这项工作做得非常出色。
He is very talented and did this job exceptionally well.
Capable; talented; skilled.
他是一位能工巧匠，什么东西到他手里都能修好。
He is a skilled craftsman; anything that comes into his hands can be repaired.
Capable of, able to, skilled at; indicating ability or competence.
他能够独立完成这项复杂的任务。
He is capable of completing this complex task independently.
to be able to; can (indicating possibility or ability)
这个孩子能自己吃饭了
This child can eat by himself now.
Used to express that something should not or cannot be done; it conveys prohibition, impropriety, or a strong suggestion against an action.
你不能碰那个杯子。
You shouldn't touch that cup.
Short for "energy" (能量), a physics term, as in "electric energy" (电能) or "heat energy" (热能).
太阳能是一种清洁的可再生能源。
Solar energy is a clean and renewable energy source.
To get along well; to be in harmony with someone.
他们两人一直不能相能。
The two of them have never been able to get along.
A legendary, bear-like beast.
古老的传说中记载着一种名为'能'的瑞兽，它身形巨大，力大无穷。
Ancient legends record an auspicious beast named 'Néng' which is immense in size and possesses unparalleled strength.
An ancient term for a type of three-legged soft-shelled turtle or turtle.
古籍中记载有一种名为'能'的三足鳖。
Ancient texts record a type of three-legged turtle called 'néng'.
2
nài能
Archaic equivalent of '耐', meaning to endure or bear.
他能饥寒。
He can endure hunger and cold.
Common Words and Phrases with 能
1
Active and dynamic, characterized by initiative and self-motivation.
员工的能动性对于项目的成功至关重要。
The proactiveness of employees is crucial for the success of the project.
2
Can or cannot; whether or not.
您能否帮我把这份文件复印一下?
Could you please help me make a copy of this document?
3
Able and capable; competent.
她是一位非常能干的经理，总能把项目管理得井井有条。
She is a very capable manager, always able to keep projects well-organized.
4
skillful artisans or master craftsmen
这座古老的木结构建筑是由一群技艺精湛的能工巧匠精心打造的，历经数百年依然坚固如初。
This ancient wooden structure was meticulously crafted by a group of highly skilled master craftsmen, and it remains as sturdy as ever after several centuries.
5
to be able to; can; to be capable of
经过努力学习，她现在能够流利地说法语了。
After diligent study, she is now able to speak French fluently.
6
7
The range or distance over which objects can be seen.
大雾导致能见度极低，严重影响了交通安全。
Heavy fog resulted in extremely low visibility, seriously affecting traffic safety.
8
Ability or capability.
他有很强的学习能力，总能很快掌握新知识
He has a strong learning ability and can always master new knowledge quickly.
9
energy, the ability to do work
运动可以帮助我们保持健康的身体，并提供充足的能量。
Exercise can help us maintain a healthy body and provide ample energy.
10
ability; skill; capability; competence
他真有能耐，一个人就把这个复杂的问题解决了。
He truly has the ability; he solved this complex problem all by himself.
11
an able person; a talented person
我们公司需要更多能人来推动创新。
Our company needs more capable people to drive innovation.
12
be ready to accept a higher or lower post; be flexible about promotions or demotions
小李在职业发展上展现出真正的能上能下，无论公司安排他去基层锻炼还是担任管理职务，他都能积极投入并取得好成绩。
Xiao Li truly demonstrates 'neng shang neng xia' in his career development; whether the company arranges him for grassroots training or a managerial position, he always actively engages and achieves good results.
13
Flexible and adaptable; able to assert oneself when successful and to endure or yield when facing adversity.
一个真正成熟的人，往往懂得在生活中能伸能屈，面对困难时既能坚持原则，也能适时变通。
A truly mature person often understands how to be adaptable and flexible in life, able to uphold principles when facing difficulties, but also knowing when to be flexible and make adjustments.
14
One's special skill or forte; what one excels at.
他在编程方面颇有能事，总是能高效解决各种技术难题。
He is quite proficient in programming, always able to efficiently resolve various technical challenges.
15
An expert or master in a particular skill or field.
他是一位烹饪能手，总能做出美味的菜肴。
He is a cooking expert, always able to make delicious dishes.
16
Eloquent and articulate; good at expressing oneself.
小明从小就活泼开朗，加上他能说会道，所以很受大家欢迎。
Xiao Ming has been lively and cheerful since childhood, and coupled with his eloquence, he is very popular among everyone.
More words with 能
- chěng逞néng能show off, boast one's ability
- hé核néng能nuclear energy
- jiàn键néng能bond energy
- qǐ岂néng能how can; how could
- quán权néng能powers and functions
- xiào效néng能effectiveness, performance
- zhí职néng能Function, Role
- cái才néng能talent, ability
- jì技néng能skill
- xián贤néng能virtuous and capable
- xìng性néng能Performance
- zhǐ只néng能can only; only able to
- hèn恨bù不néng能Wish I could, Long to
- jìn尽kě可néng能As much as possible, As far as possible
- zhì智néng能intelligence
- wèi位néng能Potential energy
- sī思wéi维néng能lì力Thinking ability.
- néng能yuán源energy, energy source
- bù不néng能cannot, can't
- gōng功néng能function, feature
Idioms with 能
- néng能bù不chèn称guān官abilities do not match the office
- néng能gē歌shàn善wǔ舞proficient in singing and dancing
- néng能qiā掐huì会suàn算able to foretell the future
- néng能qū屈néng能shēn伸adaptable and resilient
- néng能wén文néng能wǔ武skilled in both intellectual and practical matters
- néng能yán言qiǎo巧biàn辩eloquent and skilled in debate
- néng能yán言shàn善biàn辩articulate and eloquent
- néng能zhě者duō多láo劳The capable do more work
- néng能zhě者wéi为shī师learn from the capable
- ài爱mò莫néng能zhù助willing to help but powerless
- bǎi百wú无yī一néng能incapable of doing anything
- bù不néng能zì自bá拔unable to extricate oneself
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Open the tool →Questions about 能
What does 能 mean in Chinese?
能 (néng) means “Ability” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 能?
能 has 2 pronunciations: néng, nài.
How many strokes does 能 have?
能 has 10 strokes.
How do you write 能?
能 is written in 10 strokes, starting from the radical ⺼. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 能?
The radical of 能 is ⺼, and 能 is a pictograph.