Meaning
can; may; capable; energy; able
Chinese: 能力、能够。
Hear the Four Tones
The same syllable “neng” becomes a different word in each tone. 能 is the 2nd tone. Tap any tone to hear a native voice and see its pitch shape.
Stroke Order
Tap Animate to watch the strokes in order, or Practice to trace it yourself.
Common Words
- 可能kě néngmight (happen); possible; probable; possibility
- 能够néng gòuto be capable of; to be able to; can
- 只能zhǐ néngcan only; obliged to do sth; to have no other choice
- 能力néng lìcapability; ability
- 功能gōng néngfunction; capability
Example Sentence
我能帮你拿行李吗？Wǒ néng bāng nǐ ná xíng li ma?Can I help you carry the luggage?
我WǒI能néngcan帮bāngto help你nǐyou拿náto hold行李xíng liluggage吗ma(coll.) what?？
Go deeper
Where this character comes from
Originally a pictograph of a bear (the strong, capable beast). It came to mean ‘ability, can, be able to; energy’.
A way to remember it
Strong as a bear — capable, can.