Definitions
(verb)
can; to be able to; might possibly
(noun)
energy
Etymology
Pictograph of a bear. Based on the original meaning "bear". The meaning of this character has shifted over time to mean "strong" and "ability, power". Original form of 熊.
About
The character 能 initially represented a bear-like animal, with its form derived from pictorial elements that depicted the creature's powerful physique, leading to an associative link with strength and capacity. This connection allowed for a semantic shift where the character was borrowed to express the abstract concept of ability, a meaning that gradually became primary as the original zoological reference fell into disuse. The modern structure, while retaining the historical components, no longer transparently reflects its pictorial origins, and the character's function solidified into denoting capability, both as a verb meaning "can" and a noun for "ability", marking a clear transition from concrete to abstract linguistic representation.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我能做这件事。
你能帮我吗？
他能说三种语言。
她不能参加明天的会议。
努力学习就能取得进步。
这种手机功能很强大。
他的组织能力得到了大家的认可。
如果天气好，我们就能去爬山。