néng

can

surname Neng; to be able to; might possibly; ability; (physics) energy

a picture of 能 → a bear, the embodiment of raw ability

The ancient form depicted a bear — powerful, capable, and hard to stop. Bears were emblematic of raw physical ability, which is why 能 came to mean 'can' and 'capability.'

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帮我拿一下那本书吗?

nǐ néng bāng wǒ ná yī xià nà běn shū ma?

Can you help me grab that book?

他生病了,今天可不能来上课。

tā shēng bìng le,jīn tiān kě néng bù néng lái shàng kè。

He is sick, so he might not be able to come to class today.

Words with 能

巴不能够

bā bù néng gòu

avid

通用人工智能

tōng yòng rén gōng zhì néng

artificial general intelligence (AGI)

逞能

chěng néng

to show off one's ability

过而能改,善莫大焉

guò ér néng gǎi , shàn mò dà yān

If one can change after making a mistake, there is nothing better (idiom)

金钱万能

jīn qián wàn néng

money is omnipotent (idiom)

钞能力

chāo néng lì

(coll.) wealth; financial clout (pun on 超能力[chao1 neng2 li4])

钱不是万能的,没钱是万万不能的

qián bù shì wàn néng de , méi qián shì wàn wàn bù néng de

money isn't everything, but without money you can do nothing (idiom)

钱能通神

qián néng tōng shén

money is all-powerful

难能可贵

nán néng kě guì

rare and precious

零点能

líng diǎn néng

zero-point energy (quantum mechanical vacuum effect)

电能

diàn néng

electrical energy

领导能力

lǐng dǎo néng lì

leadership (ability)

More characters with 厶