Definitions
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 (néng) originated as a pictograph depicting a bear, showing its large body, head, and paws. Its modern form consists of the left component 月 (yuè), the flesh radical indicating an animal body, and the two right-side components 匕 (bǐ), stylized remnants of the bear's claws. As bears were renowned for their strength, 能 was phonetically borrowed to represent abstract concepts of ability and capability. This semantic shift led to the creation of a new character, 熊 (xióng), for the animal itself, which incorporates the fire radical 灬 (huǒ) at the bottom.
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。