Wiktionary

能

See also: 態
能 U+80FD, 能
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-80FD
← 胼
[U+80FC] 		CJK Unified Ideographs 胾 →
[U+80FE]

Translingual

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Stroke order
 
Stroke order
 

Han character

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能 (Kangxi radical 130, 肉+6, 10 strokes, cangjie input 戈月心心 (IBPP), four-corner 21211, composition ⿰䏍𫧇)

Derived characters

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References

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  • Kangxi Dictionary: page 981, character 16
  • Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 29454
  • Dae Jaweon: page 1433, character 11
  • Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 3, page 2074, character 1
  • Unihan data for U+80FD

Chinese

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trad. 能
simp. # 能
2nd round simp. 𫧇
alternative forms 䏻
𦝕
𫧇

Glyph origin

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Characters in the same phonetic series (能) (Zhengzhang, 2003) 
Old Chinese
態 *n̥ʰɯːs
能 *nɯː, *nɯːs, *nɯːŋ, *nɯːŋʔ
螚 *nɯːs
褦 *nɯːs

Pictogram (象形) : bear. Compare 熊 (OC *ɢʷlɯm, “bear”). In the character, two paws are visible as a pair of 匕 and the face with the open mouth is stylized as 月.

Etymology

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"bear-like animal"
Apparently an areal word of Austroasiatic origin (Schuessler, 2007; Zhang, 2019). Compare Kharia [script needed] (bɔnɔi), Santali [script needed] (bana, “Indian black bear”) & Lepcha ᰠᰶᰍ (să-na, “bear”), a loanword from Santali.
“be able to; can; ability”
Shijing rhymes point to Old Chinese *nə, but the forms with *-ŋ are also archaic (perhaps ancient dialectal variation?).
Possibly Proto-Sino-Tibetan (which STEDT tentatively reconstructs as *m-nyaŋ (“can, be able”)): compare Tibetan ནུས (nus, “to be able to; capable; to withstand; capacity; strength; force; power; function; energy”), Burmese နိုင် (nuing, “can, be able to, may; master; win; prevail”). Schuessler (2007) also derives 態 (OC *n̥ʰɯːs, “apparition, bearing, manner”) from this; see also 忍 (OC *njɯnʔ, “to suffer, endure”).
Compare the old pre-Sino–Vietnamese loanword nổi (“be able to; capable”).

Pronunciation 1

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Note: nêng5 - Jieyang.
  • Dialectal data
Variety Location 能
Mandarin Beijing /nəŋ³⁵/
Harbin /nəŋ²⁴/
Tianjin /nəŋ⁴⁵/
Jinan /nəŋ⁴²/
Qingdao /nəŋ⁴²/
Zhengzhou /nəŋ⁴²/
Xi'an /nəŋ²⁴/
Xining /nə̃²⁴/
Yinchuan /nəŋ⁴⁴/ 打～～
/nəŋ⁵³/ ～幹
Lanzhou /lə̃n⁵³/
Ürümqi /nɤŋ⁵¹/
Wuhan /nən²¹³/
Chengdu /nən³¹/
Guiyang /nen²¹/
Kunming /nə̃³¹/
Nanjing /lən²⁴/
Hefei /lən⁵⁵/
Jin Taiyuan /nəŋ¹¹/
Pingyao /nəŋ¹³/
Hohhot /nə̃ŋ³¹/
Wu Shanghai /nəŋ²³/
Suzhou /nən¹³/
Hangzhou /nen²¹³/
Wenzhou /naŋ³¹/
Hui Shexian /lʌ̃⁴⁴/
Tunxi /lɛ⁴⁴/
Xiang Changsha /lən¹³/
Xiangtan /nən¹²/
Gan Nanchang /lɛn⁴⁵/
Hakka Meixian /nen¹¹/
Taoyuan /nen¹¹/
Cantonese Guangzhou /nɐŋ²¹/
Nanning /nɐŋ²¹/
Hong Kong /nɐŋ²¹/
Min Xiamen (Hokkien) /liŋ³⁵/
Fuzhou (Eastern Min) /nɛiŋ⁵³/
Jian'ou (Northern Min) /naiŋ²¹/
Shantou (Teochew) /leŋ⁵⁵/
Haikou (Hainanese) /neŋ³¹/
/nɔŋ³¹/
Rime
Character 能
Reading # 2/4
Initial (聲) 泥 (8)
Final (韻) 登 (129)
Tone (調) Level (Ø)
Openness (開合) Open
Division (等) I
Fanqie 奴登切
Baxter nong
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang
Shangfang 		/nəŋ/
Pan
Wuyun 		/nəŋ/
Shao
Rongfen 		/nəŋ/
Edwin
Pulleyblank 		/nəŋ/
Li
Rong 		/nəŋ/
Wang
Li 		/nəŋ/
Bernard
Karlgren 		/nəŋ/
Expected
Mandarin
Reflex 		néng
Expected
Cantonese
Reflex 		nang4
Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character 能 能 能
Reading # 1/3 2/3 3/3
Modern
Beijing
(Pinyin) 		néng néng néng
Middle
Chinese 		‹ noj › ‹ nong › ‹ nong ›
Old
Chinese 		/*nˁə/ /*nˁə(ŋ)/ /*nˁə(ʔ)/ (~ *nˁəŋ)
English a kind of bear a kind of bear able; ability

Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system:

* Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence;
* Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p;
* Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix;
* Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary;

* Period "." indicates syllable boundary.
Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character 能
Reading # 3/4
No. 9415
Phonetic
component 		能
Rime
group 		蒸
Rime
subdivision 		0
Corresponding
MC rime 		能
Old
Chinese 		/*nɯːŋ/

Definitions

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能

  1. (obsolete) a kind of bear
  2. † (Chinese mythology) A mythological bear-like animal, with deer-like legs.
  3. able; capable
  4. can; to be able to; to be capable of; to be allowed to
    我能跑得很快。  ―  Wǒ néng pǎo de hěn kuài.  ―  I can run fast.
    有人能幫我嗎？／有人能帮我吗？  ―  Yǒu rén néng bāng wǒ ma?  ―  Is there anybody who can help me?
    漲潮時你不能在這個海灘散步。 [MSC, trad.]
    涨潮时你不能在这个海滩散步。 [MSC, simp.]
    Zhàngcháo shí nǐ bù néng zài zhège hǎitān sànbù. [Pinyin]
    You can't walk along this beach at high tide.
    公共場所不能吸煙。 [MSC, trad.]
    公共场所不能吸烟。 [MSC, simp.]
    Gōnggòngchǎngsuǒ bùnéng xīyān. [Pinyin]
    You’re not allowed to smoke in public.
  5. to successfully do something (negate with 沒／没 (méi))
    你能進入這所大學讀書，全靠你父母的關係。 [MSC, trad.]
    你能进入这所大学读书，全靠你父母的关系。 [MSC, simp.]
    Nǐ néng jìnrù zhè suǒ dàxué dúshū, quán kào nǐ fùmǔ de guānxì. [Pinyin]
    You were able to study at this university all because of your parents.
    他沒能趕上末班車。 [MSC, trad.]
    他没能赶上末班车。 [MSC, simp.]
    Tā méi néng gǎnshàng mòbānchē. [Pinyin]
    He didn't manage to catch the last train.
  6. (dialectal) cocky
    看把你能的。  ―  Kàn bǎ nǐ néng de.  ―  (please add an English translation of this usage example)
  7. may; could
    能不能請你幫個忙？ [MSC, trad.]
    能不能请你帮个忙？ [MSC, simp.]
    Néng bù néng qǐng nǐ bāng ge máng? [Pinyin]
    May I ask a favour of you?
    你能再說一遍嗎？ [MSC, trad.]
    你能再说一遍吗？ [MSC, simp.]
    Nǐ néng zài shuō yībiàn ma? [Pinyin]
    Could you repeat that?
  8. rather; would rather
  9. ability; capability
    能力  ―  nénglì  ―  capability, ability
    無能／无能  ―  wúnéng  ―  incompetent
  10. talent; talented person
    才能  ―  cáinéng  ―  talent, ability
  11. energy; power
    太陽能／太阳能  ―  tàiyángnéng  ―  solar energy
    水能  ―  shuǐnéng  ―  hydroelectric power
    動能／动能  ―  dòngnéng  ―  kinetic energy
  12. (Sujiahu Wu, Wenzhounese, Jinhua and Quzhou Wu) way; manner
    搿能 [Shanghainese]  ―  8geq-nen [Wugniu]  ―  like this (lit. in this way)
    好好能走 [Shanghainese]  ―  5hau-hau-nen-tseu [Wugniu]  ―  to walk properly
    慢慢能吃 [Wenzhounese]  ―  ma6-ma6-nan2-chiai7 [Wugniu]  ―  to eat slowly
  13. a surname

Synonyms

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Dialectal synonyms of 能 (“can”) [map]
Variety Location Words
Classical Chinese 能
Formal (Written Standard Chinese) 能, 能夠, 可以
Northeastern Mandarin Taiwan 能, 能夠, 可以
Malaysia 能
Singapore 能, 能夠, 可以
Cantonese Hong Kong 可以
Hakka Kuching (Hepo) 得
Eastern Min Singapore (Fuqing) 會
Southern Min Penang (Hokkien) 會, 會使
Singapore (Hokkien) 會, 會使
Manila (Hokkien) 會, 會通
Zhongshan Min Zhongshan (Longdu, Shaxi) 得, 可以
Wu Shanghai 好
Suzhou 好
Ningbo 好

Compounds

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Pronunciation 2

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Rime
Character 能
Reading # 4/4
Initial (聲) 泥 (8)
Final (韻) 咍 (41)
Tone (調) Departing (H)
Openness (開合) Open
Division (等) I
Fanqie 奴代切
Baxter nojH
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang
Shangfang 		/nʌiH/
Pan
Wuyun 		/nəiH/
Shao
Rongfen 		/nɒiH/
Edwin
Pulleyblank 		/nəjH/
Li
Rong 		/nᴀiH/
Wang
Li 		/nɒiH/
Bernard
Karlgren 		/nɑ̆iH/
Expected
Mandarin
Reflex 		nài
Expected
Cantonese
Reflex 		noi6
Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character 能
Reading # 2/4
No. 9413
Phonetic
component 		能
Rime
group 		之
Rime
subdivision 		0
Corresponding
MC rime 		耐
Old
Chinese 		/*nɯːs/

Definitions

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能

  1. † Alternative form of 耐 (“to bear; to withstand”)
  2. a surname

Pronunciation 3

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Definitions

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能

  1. † Alternative form of 台 (“name of a Chinese constellation”)
    三能  ―  sāntái  ―  Santai (Chinese constellation)

Pronunciation 4

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Definitions

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能

  1. † Alternative form of 態／态 (tài, “bearing; apparition; form; shape; status; position”)

Pronunciation 5

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Rime
Character 能
Reading # 1/4
Initial (聲) 泥 (8)
Final (韻) 咍 (41)
Tone (調) Level (Ø)
Openness (開合) Open
Division (等) I
Fanqie 奴來切
Baxter noj
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang
Shangfang 		/nʌi/
Pan
Wuyun 		/nəi/
Shao
Rongfen 		/nɒi/
Edwin
Pulleyblank 		/nəj/
Li
Rong 		/nᴀi/
Wang
Li 		/nɒi/
Bernard
Karlgren 		/nɑ̆i/
Expected
Mandarin
Reflex 		nái
Expected
Cantonese
Reflex 		noi4
Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character 能
Reading # 1/3
Modern
Beijing
(Pinyin) 		néng
Middle
Chinese 		‹ noj ›
Old
Chinese 		/*nˁə/
English a kind of bear

Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system:

* Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence;
* Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p;
* Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix;
* Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary;

* Period "." indicates syllable boundary.
Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character 能
Reading # 1/4
No. 9411
Phonetic
component 		能
Rime
group 		之
Rime
subdivision 		0
Corresponding
MC rime 		能
Old
Chinese 		/*nɯː/

Definitions

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能

  1. (obsolete) mythical three-legged soft-shelled turtle

Compounds

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Pronunciation 6

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Definitions

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能

  1. † Only used in 能始 (tāishǐ, “origin; root cause”).

Pronunciation 7

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Definitions

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能

  1. † Alternative form of 熊 (xióng, “bear”)

References

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Japanese

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Noh stage at Itsukushima Shrine, Miyajima, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.

Kanji

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能

(Fifth grade kyōiku kanji)

  1. ability
  2. talent
  3. skill
  4. capacity

Readings

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Compounds

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Noun

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 能 on Japanese Wikipedia
 Noh on Wikipedia

能(のう) • (nō) 

  1. Noh, a form of classical Japanese musical drama.
  2. ability, capacity, aptitude.
  3. effect, use.
    古(ふる)い議(ぎ)論(ろん)を繰(く)り返(かえ)しても能(のう)はないのだよ。
    Furui giron o kurikaeshite mo nō wa nai no da yo.
    Repeating old arguments isn't of any use / won't have any effect.

Synonyms

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Korean

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Etymology 1

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From Middle Chinese 能 (MC nong).

Historical readings

Pronunciation

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Hanja

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Korean Wikisource has texts containing the hanja:

Wikisource

能 (eumhun 능할 능 (neunghal neung))

  1. hanja form? of 능 (“ability”)

Compounds

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Compounds

Etymology 2

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Related to Middle Chinese 耐 (MC nojH).

Hanja

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能 (eumhun 견딜 내 (gyeondil nae))

  1. (literary Chinese) Alternative form of 耐 (“hanja form? of 내 (“endure; withstand”)”)

References

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  • 국제퇴계학회 대구경북지부 (國際退溪學會 大邱慶北支部) (2007). Digital Hanja Dictionary, 전자사전／電子字典. [2]

Old Japanese

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Etymology

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From Middle Chinese 能 (MC nong).

Phonogram

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能 (no2)

  1. Denotes phonographic syllable no2.
    Synonym: 乃

Further reading

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Vietnamese

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Han character

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能: Hán Nôm readings: năng, hay, nấng, năn, nằng, nưng

  1. This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.
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