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能

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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
10 strokes
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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Additional Derived Characters

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): a 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/
Bernhard
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. (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese, 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 (literally, “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
Jianghuai Mandarin Yangzhou 能, 好, 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/
Bernhard
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. (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) alternative form of 耐 (“to bear; to withstand”)
  2. a surname

Pronunciation 3

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Definitions

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能

  1. (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) 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. (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) 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/
Bernhard
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. (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) only used in 能始 (tāishǐ, “origin; root cause”)

Pronunciation 7

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Definitions

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能

  1. (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) alternative form of 熊 (xióng, “bear”)

References

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Japanese

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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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Etymology

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Kanji in this term
能
のう
Grade: 5
goon
Noh stage at Itsukushima Shrine, Miyajima, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.
Wikipedia has articles on:

Pronunciation

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Noun

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能(のう) • (nō) 

  1. (theater) Noh, a form of classical Japanese musical drama
    Synonym: 能楽 (nōgaku)
  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.

References

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  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN

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:

能 (eumhun 능할 능 (neunghal neung))

  1. hanja form? of 능 (“ability”)

Compounds

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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 Việt readings: năng[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]
能: Nôm readings: năng[1][2][3][4][5][6][7], nằng[3][4][5][6], nấng[3][4][5][6], hay[1][2][3], nâng[1][4][5], nằng[5][6], nang[1], năn[3], nưng[3], nậng[5]

  1. chữ Hán form of năng (“able”)
  2. chữ Nôm form of hay
    1. (archaic or literary) to know; to get to know; to learn
      • 1820, Nguyễn Du (阮攸), Đoạn trường tân thanh (Truyện Kiều)‎[3]:
        𬖉𦋦𦰟𦹵𦲿核
        𧡊囂囂𱢻時能姉𧗱
        Trông ra ngọn cỏ lá cây,
        Thấy hiu hiu gió thì hay chị về.
        And when you look outside, to where the grass and leaves are,
        And if you see them sway in the light breeze, then you know that I, your sister, will come home soon.
    2. (obsolete, auxiliary) can, could, may, might
    3. or
  3. chữ Nôm form of năng
    1. frequently; diligently; regularly
    2. used in nói năng (“to speak”)
  4. chữ Nôm form of nâng (“to raise; to lift; to elevate”)

References

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  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Nguyễn (2014).
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Nguyễn et al. (2009).
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Trần (2004).
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Hồ (1976).
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 Bonet (1899).
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Génibrel (1898).
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Taberd & Pigneau de Béhaine (1838).
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