能

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

Translingual[edit]

Stroke order
10 strokes
Stroke order

Han character[edit]

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

Derived characters[edit]

References[edit]

  • 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[edit]

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

Glyph origin[edit]

Historical forms of the character 能
Shang Western Zhou Spring and Autumn Warring States Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han) Liushutong (compiled in Ming)
Oracle bone script Bronze inscriptions Bronze inscriptions Bronze inscriptions Chu slip and silk script Qin slip script Small seal script Transcribed ancient scripts
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”).

Etymology[edit]

"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 Sino–Tibetan: compare Tibetan ནུས (nus, “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.
Compare the old pre-Sino–Vietnamese loanword nổi (“be able to; capable”).

Pronunciation 1[edit]

  • 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 (Min Nan) /liŋ³⁵/
Fuzhou (Min Dong) /nɛiŋ⁵³/
Jian'ou (Min Bei) /naiŋ²¹/
Shantou (Min Nan) /leŋ⁵⁵/
Haikou (Min Nan) /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[edit]

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 catch up 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？／你能再说一遍吗？  ―  Nǐ néng zài shuō yībiàn ma?  ―  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. a surname

Synonyms[edit]

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

Compounds[edit]

Pronunciation 2[edit]

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[edit]

能

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

Pronunciation 3[edit]

Definitions[edit]

能

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

Pronunciation 4[edit]

Definitions[edit]

能

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

Pronunciation 5[edit]

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[edit]

能

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

Compounds[edit]

Pronunciation 6[edit]

Definitions[edit]

能

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

Pronunciation 7[edit]

Definitions[edit]

能

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

References[edit]

Japanese[edit]

Japanese Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia ja
English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia
Noh stage at Itsukushima Shrine, Miyajima, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.

Kanji[edit]

能

(grade 5 “Kyōiku” kanji)

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

Readings[edit]

Compounds[edit]

Noun[edit]

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[edit]

Korean[edit]

Etymology 1[edit]

From Middle Chinese 能 (MC nong).

Historical readings

Pronunciation[edit]

Hanja[edit]

Korean Wikisource has texts containing the hanja:

Wikisource

能 (eumhun 능할 능 (neunghal neung))

  1. Hanja form? of 능 (“ability”).

Compounds[edit]

Compounds

Etymology 2[edit]

Related to Middle Chinese 耐 (MC nojH).

Hanja[edit]

能 (eumhun 견딜 내 (gyeondil nae))

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

References[edit]

  • 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[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Middle Chinese 能 (MC nong).

Phonogram[edit]

能 (no2)

  1. Denotes phonographic syllable no2.
    Synonym: 乃

Further reading[edit]

Vietnamese[edit]

Han character[edit]

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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