Dictionary › 能

能

néng

HSK 1 Character

What 能 means

1. can
2. to be able to
3. might possibly
4. ability
5. physicsenergy

Other readings

能 is 多音字 — it is read more than one way, and the reading changes the meaning.

• Néngsurname Neng

Example sentences

• 我也能去
  Wǒ yě néng qù
  I can come, too.
• 不可能！
  It can't be!
• 鱼能游。
  A fish can swim.
• 我能吗？
  May I?
• 鸟能飞。
  A bird can fly.
• 我能说。
  I'm able to speak.

Words starting with 能

• 能够néng gòuto be capable of; to be able to; can
• 能力néng lìcapability; ability
• 能源néng yuánenergy sources; energy
• 能干néng gàncapable; competent
• 能量néng liàngenergy; capabilities
• 能否néng fǒuwhether one can; whether it is possible
• 能耐néng nàiability; capability
• 能手néng shǒuexpert
• 能人néng réncapable person; Homo habilis, extinct species of upright East African hominid
• 能事néng shìparticular abilities; one's forte
• 能见度néng jiàn dùvisibility
• 能耗néng hàoenergy consumption
• 能说会道néng shuō huì dàocan talk really well (idiom); the gift of the gab
• 能歌善舞néng gē shàn wǔcan sing and dance (idiom); fig. a person of many talents
• 能上能下néng shàng néng xiàready to take any job, high or low
• 能动性néng dòng xìnginitiative; active role
• 能级néng jíenergy level
• 能效néng xiàoenergy efficiency
• 能量代谢néng liàng dài xièenergy metabolism
• 能写会算néng xiě huì suàn(idiom) to be literate and numerate
• 能源危机néng yuán wēi jīenergy crisis
• 能者多劳néng zhě duō láo(idiom) it's the most capable people who do the most work…
• 能愿动词néng yuàn dòng címodal verb (e.g. 肯
• 能言善辩néng yán shàn biànglib of tongue (idiom); eloquent

Words containing 能

• 不能bù néngcannot; must not; should not
• 可能kě néngmight (happen); possible; probable
• 只能zhǐ néngcan only; obliged to do sth; to have no other choice
• 才能cái néngtalent; ability; capacity
• 功能gōng néngfunction; capability
• 技能jì néngtechnical ability; skill
• 性能xìng néngfunction; performance; behavior
• 智能zhì néngintelligent; able; smart (phone, system, bomb etc)
• 本能běn nénginstinct
• 职能zhí néngfunction; role
• 无能为力wú néng wéi lì(idiom) powerless to do anything about it
• 力所能及lì suǒ néng jías far as one's capabilities extend (idiom); to the best of one's ability…
• 难能可贵nán néng kě guìrare and precious; valuable; remarkable
• 有可能yǒu kě néngpossible; probable; possibly
• 可能性kě néng xìngpossibility; probability
• 未能wèi néngcannot; to fail to; unable to
• 不能不bù néng bùhave to; cannot but
• 所能suǒ néngaccording to one's capabilities; what sb is capable of
• 怎能zěn nénghow can?
• 无能wú néngincompetence; inability; incapable
• 万能wàn néngomnipotent; all-purpose; universal
• 节能jié néngto conserve energy; to minimize energy consumption
• 潜能qián néngpotential; hidden capability
• 体能tǐ néngphysical capability; stamina

Characters that look like 能

Easy to confuse on sight. Compare them side by side once and the pair stops costing you.

• 获huò(literary) to catch; to capture; (literary) to get; to obtain; to win
• 载zǎito record in writing; to carry (i.e. publish in a newspaper etc); Taiwan pr. zài
• 弱ruòweak; feeble; young; inferior; not as good as
• 栽zāito plant; to grow; to insert; to erect (e.g. a bus stop sign); to impose sth on sb
• 躯qūhuman body
• 觊jìto covet; to long for