能 néng — can; may; capable; energy; able
我能帮你拿行李吗？Wǒ néng bāng nǐ ná xíng li ma?Can I help you carry the luggage?
Common words: 可能 (kě néng)、能够 (néng gòu)、只能 (zhǐ néng)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "energy"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "energy", including 能 (néng), 精 (jīng). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "energy" covers 2 different Chinese characters — 能 (néng), 精 (jīng) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 2 characters do not share a sound — their readings span néng, jīng — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 能 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 能 néngcan; may; capable; energy; ableUseful words: 可能, 能够
- 精 jīngenergy; perfect; excellent; refined; very; proficientUseful words: 精神, 精彩
Common words for these 2 "energy" characters
Anchor each of these 2 characters in a word you can picture — start with 能 (néng) — so "energy" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 2 ways to say "energy".
精 jīng — energy; perfect; excellent; refined; very; proficient
这件工艺品做得很精致。Zhè jiàn gōng yì pǐn zuò de hěn jīng zhì.This handicraft is made very exquisitely.
Common words: 精神 (jīng shén)、精彩 (jīng cǎi)、精力 (jīng lì)
All 2 characters
Open 能、精 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.