# 能

| 能 | U+80FD, &#33021; CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-80FD |
| ← 胼 [U+80FC] | CJK Unified Ideographs | 胾 → [U+80FE] |

## Translingual
### Han character

能 (Kangxi radical 130, 肉+6, 10 strokes, cangjie input 戈月心心 (IBPP), four-corner 2121$_1$, composition ⿰䏍𫧇)

#### Derived characters

* 㑷, 𠹌, 𢟒, 㨢, 㴰, 𤠗, 褦, 㔮, 𪏛, 態, 熋, 熊, 螚, 䘅, 罷, 𨶙

#### References

* 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
### Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 能 :
| Shang | Western Zhou | Spring and Autumn | Warring States | Warring States | 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 |
| | 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
#### "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

* Mandarin
    (Standard)
       (Pinyin): néng (neng$^2$)
       (Zhuyin): ㄋㄥˊ
    (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): nen$^2$
    (Xi'an, Guanzhong Pinyin): néng
    (Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): нын (nɨn, I)
* Cantonese
    (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): nang$^4$
    (Taishan, Wiktionary): nang$^3$
* Gan (Wiktionary): len$^4$
* Hakka
    (Sixian, PFS): nèn
    (Meixian, Guangdong): nên$^2$
* Jin (Wiktionary): neng$^1$
* Northern Min (KCR): nǎing
* Eastern Min (BUC): nèng
* Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): neng$^2$
* Southern Min
    (Hokkien, POJ): lêng / nn̂g
    (Teochew, Peng'im): lêng$^5$ / nêng$^5$
* Wu (Northern, Wugniu): $^6$nen / $^2$nen
* Xiang (Changsha, Wiktionary): len$^2$
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: néng
*** Zhuyin: ㄋㄥˊ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: néng
*** Wade–Giles: nêng$^2$
*** Yale: néng
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: neng
*** Palladius: нэн (nɛn)
*** Sinological IPA : /nɤŋ³⁵/
** (Chengdu)
*** Sichuanese Pinyin: nen$^2$
*** Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: len
*** Sinological IPA : /nən²¹/
** (Xi'an)
*** Guanzhong Pinyin: néng
*** Sinological IPA : /nəŋ²⁴/
** (Dungan)
*** Cyrillic and Wiktionary: нын (nɨn, I)
*** Sinological IPA : /nəŋ²⁴/
    (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: nang$^4$
*** Yale: nàhng
*** Cantonese Pinyin: nang$^4$
*** Guangdong Romanization: neng$^4$
*** Sinological IPA : /nɐŋ²¹/
** (Taishanese, Taicheng)
*** Wiktionary: nang$^3$
*** Sinological IPA : /ⁿdaŋ²²/
* Gan
** (Nanchang)
*** Wiktionary: len$^4$
*** Sinological IPA : /lɛn³⁵/
* Hakka
** (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
*** Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: nèn
*** Hakka Romanization System: nen$^ˇ$
*** Hagfa Pinyim: nen$^2$
*** Sinological IPA: /nen¹¹/
** (Meixian)
*** Guangdong: nên$^2$
*** Sinological IPA: /nɛn¹¹/
* Jin
** (Taiyuan)
*** Wiktionary: neng$^1$
*** Sinological IPA (old-style): /nəŋ¹¹/
* Northern Min
** (Jian'ou)
*** Kienning Colloquial Romanized: nǎing
*** Sinological IPA : /naiŋ²¹/
* Eastern Min
** (Fuzhou)
*** Bàng-uâ-cê: nèng
*** Sinological IPA : /nˡɛiŋ⁵³/
* Puxian Min
** (Putian, Xianyou)
*** Pouseng Ping'ing: neng$^2$
*** Sinological IPA : /nɛŋ¹³/
* Southern Min
** (Hokkien: Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Jinjiang, General Taiwanese)
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī: lêng
*** Tâi-lô: lîng
*** Phofsit Daibuun: leeng
*** IPA (Kaohsiung): /liɪŋ²³/
*** IPA (Xiamen, Jinjiang, Taipei): /liɪŋ²⁴/
*** IPA (Zhangzhou): /liɪŋ¹³/
** (Hokkien: Quanzhou, Jinjiang, Philippines)
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī: nn̂g
*** Tâi-lô: nn̂g
*** Phofsit Daibuun: nngg
*** IPA (Quanzhou, Jinjiang, Philippines): /nŋ̍²⁴/
** (Teochew)
*** Peng'im: lêng$^5$ / nêng$^5$
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: lêng / nêng
*** Sinological IPA : /leŋ⁵⁵/, /neŋ⁵⁵/
* Wu
** (Northern: Shanghai)
*** Wugniu: $^6$nen
*** MiniDict: nen$^去$
*** Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): $^3$nen
*** Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /nən²³/
** (Northern: Suzhou)
*** Wugniu: $^2$nen
*** MiniDict: nen$^平$
*** Sinological IPA (Suzhou): /nən²²³/
* Xiang
** (Changsha)
*** Wiktionary: len$^2$
*** Sinological IPA : /lən¹³/
* Dialectal data
| Variety | Location | edit能 |
| Mandarin | Beijing | /nəŋ³⁵/ |
| Mandarin | Harbin | /nəŋ²⁴/ |
| Mandarin | Tianjin | /nəŋ⁴⁵/ |
| Mandarin | Jinan | /nəŋ⁴²/ |
| Mandarin | Qingdao | /nəŋ⁴²/ |
| Mandarin | Zhengzhou | /nəŋ⁴²/ |
| Mandarin | Xi'an | /nəŋ²⁴/ |
| Mandarin | Xining | /nə̃²⁴/ |
| Mandarin | Yinchuan | /nəŋ⁴⁴/ 打～～ /nəŋ⁵³/ ～幹 |
| Mandarin | Lanzhou | /lə̃n⁵³/ |
| Mandarin | Ürümqi | /nɤŋ⁵¹/ |
| Mandarin | Wuhan | /nən²¹³/ |
| Mandarin | Chengdu | /nən³¹/ |
| Mandarin | Guiyang | /nen²¹/ |
| Mandarin | Kunming | /nə̃³¹/ |
| Mandarin | Nanjing | /lən²⁴/ |
| Mandarin | Hefei | /lən⁵⁵/ |
| Jin | Taiyuan | /nəŋ¹¹/ |
| Jin | Pingyao | /nəŋ¹³/ |
| Jin | Hohhot | /nə̃ŋ³¹/ |
| Wu | Shanghai | /nəŋ²³/ |
| Wu | Suzhou | /nən¹³/ |
| Wu | Hangzhou | /nen²¹³/ |
| Wu | Wenzhou | /naŋ³¹/ |
| Hui | Shexian | /lʌ̃⁴⁴/ |
| Hui | Tunxi | /lɛ⁴⁴/ |
| Xiang | Changsha | /lən¹³/ |
| Xiang | Xiangtan | /nən¹²/ |
| Gan | Nanchang | /lɛn⁴⁵/ |
| Hakka | Meixian | /nen¹¹/ |
| Hakka | Taoyuan | /nen¹¹/ |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou | /nɐŋ²¹/ |
| Cantonese | Nanning | /nɐŋ²¹/ |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong | /nɐŋ²¹/ |
| Min | Xiamen (Hokkien) | /liŋ³⁵/ |
| Min | Fuzhou (Eastern Min) | /nɛiŋ⁵³/ |
| Min | Jian'ou (Northern Min) | /naiŋ²¹/ |
| Min | Shantou (Teochew) | /leŋ⁵⁵/ |
| Min | Haikou (Hainanese) | /neŋ³¹/ /nɔŋ³¹/ |
* Middle Chinese: nong
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 | nang$^4$ |
* Old Chinese
    (Baxter–Sagart): /*nˤə/, /*nˤə(ŋ)/, /*nˤə(ʔ)/
    (Zhengzhang): /*nɯːŋ/
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

能
* (obsolete) a kind of bear
* (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese, Chinese mythology) A mythological bear-like animal, with deer-like legs.
* able; capable
* 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?
       Zhàngcháo shí nǐ bù néng zài zhège hǎitān sànbù. [Pinyin]
       You can't walk along this beach at high tide.
       Gōnggòngchǎngsuǒ bùnéng xīyān. [Pinyin]
       You’re not allowed to smoke in public.
* to successfully do something (negate with 沒／没 (méi))
       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.
       Tā méi néng gǎnshàng mòbānchē. [Pinyin]
       He didn't manage to catch the last train.
* (dialectal) cocky
    看把你能的。 ― Kàn bǎ nǐ néng de. ― (please add an English translation of this usage example)
* may; could
       Néng bù néng qǐng nǐ bāng ge máng? [Pinyin]
       May I ask a favour of you?
       Nǐ néng zài shuō yībiàn ma? [Pinyin]
       Could you repeat that?
* rather; would rather
* ability; capability
    能力 ― nénglì ― capability, ability
    無能／无能 ― wúnéng ― incompetent
* talent; talented person
    才能 ― cáinéng ― talent, ability
* energy; power
    太陽能／太阳能 ― tàiyángnéng ― solar energy
    水能 ― shuǐnéng ― hydroelectric power
    動能／动能 ― dòngnéng ― kinetic energy
* (Sujiahu Wu, Wenzhounese, Jinhua and Quzhou Wu) way; manner
    搿能 [Shanghainese] ― $^8$geq-nen [Wugniu] ― like this (lit. in this way)
    好好能走 [Shanghainese] ― $^5$hau-hau-nen-tseu [Wugniu] ― to walk properly
    慢慢能吃 [Wenzhounese] ― ma$_6$-ma$_6$-nan$_2$-chiai$_7$ [Wugniu] ― to eat slowly
* a surname

#### Synonyms

| Variety | Location | Words |
| Classical Chinese | Classical Chinese | 能 |
| Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | 能, 能夠, 可以 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Taiwan | 能, 能夠, 可以 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Malaysia | 能 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | 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 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Hokkien) | 會, 會使 |
| Southern Min | Manila (Hokkien) | 會, 會通 |
| Zhongshan Min | Zhongshan (Longdu, Shaxi) | 得, 可以 |
| Wu | Shanghai | 好 |
| Wu | Suzhou | 好 |
| Wu | Ningbo | 好 |

#### Compounds

* 一專多能 / 一专多能 (yīzhuānduōnéng)
* 一次能源 (yīcì néngyuán)
* 不付能
* 不付能勾
* 不可能 (bùkěnéng)
* 不學而能 / 不学而能
* 不甫能
* 不甫能勾
* 不相能
* 不能 (bùnéng)
* 不能不 (bùnéngbù)
* 不能出口
* 不能勝數 / 不能胜数
* 不能勾
* 不能彀
* 不能為 / 不能为
* 不能盡數 / 不能尽数
* 不能自休
* 不能自免
* 不能自制
* 不能自已 (bùnéngzìyǐ)
* 不能自拔 (bùnéngzìbá)
* 不能自給 / 不能自给
* 二次能源 (èrcì néngyuán)
* 付能
* 何德何能 (hédéhénéng)
* 位能 (wèinéng)
* 低能 (dīnéng)
* 低能兒 / 低能儿 (dīnéng'ér)
* 傳播功能 / 传播功能 (chuánbō gōngnéng)
* 光能
* 充能幹 / 充能干
* 全知全能
* 全能 (quánnéng)
* 全能生產 / 全能生产
* 全能運動 / 全能运动
* 再生能源 (zàishēng néngyuán)
* 冷能
* 判斷能力 / 判断能力
* 副能
* 力所能及 (lìsuǒnéngjí)
* 功能 (gōngnéng)
* 功能團體 / 功能团体 (gōngnéng tuántǐ)
* 動能 / 动能 (dòngnéng)
* 勢能 / 势能 (shìnéng)
* 勤能補拙 / 勤能补拙 (qínnéngbǔzhuō)
* 化學能 / 化学能 (huàxuénéng)
* 十項全能 / 十项全能 (shíxiàng quánnéng)
* 南能北秀
* 原子能 (yuánzǐnéng)
* 口能
* 口能舌便
* 可能 (kěnéng)
* 只能 (zhǐnéng)
* 可能性 (kěnéngxìng)
* 各盡所能 / 各尽所能
* 國能 / 国能
* 多功能廳 / 多功能厅 (duōgōngnéngtīng)
* 多能
* 大能 (dànéng)
* 太陽能 / 太阳能 (tàiyángnéng)
* 太陽能房 / 太阳能房
* 奇才異能 / 奇才异能
* 妨功害能
* 妒能害賢 / 妒能害贤
* 妒賢嫉能 / 妒贤嫉能
* 妒賢疾能 / 妒贤疾能
* 嫉賢妒能 / 嫉贤妒能
* 安能 (ānnéng)
* 官能 (guānnéng)
* 官能交錯 / 官能交错
* 寢不能寐 / 寝不能寐
* 尊賢使能 / 尊贤使能
* 幾能勾 / 几能勾
* 庸碌無能 / 庸碌无能
* 廉能
* 彈性勢能 / 弹性势能 (tánxìng shìnéng)
* 復氧能力 / 复氧能力
* 德薄能鮮 / 德薄能鲜
* 志能之士
* 性無能 / 性无能 (xìngwúnéng)
* 性能 (xìngnéng)
* 意思能力
* 愛莫能助 / 爱莫能助 (àimònéngzhù)
* 慈故能勇
* 慎謀能斷 / 慎谋能断
* 慧能 (Huìnéng)
* 憂能傷人 / 忧能伤人
* 才能 (cáinéng)
* 才能幹濟 / 才能干济
* 技能 (jìnéng)
* 技能檢定 / 技能检定
* 技能競賽 / 技能竞赛
* 推賢讓能 / 推贤让能
* 推賢遜能 / 推贤逊能
* 效能 (xiàonéng)
* 智盡能索 / 智尽能索
* 智能 (zhìnéng)
* 智能不足
* 智能權 / 智能权
* 智能犯罪
* 智能遲滯 / 智能迟滞
* 替代能源
* 會道能說 / 会道能说
* 本能 (běnnéng)
* 未能免俗
* 材能兼備 / 材能兼备
* 核子能
* 核能 (hénéng)
* 核能廢料 / 核能废料
* 核能潛艇 / 核能潜艇
* 核能發電 / 核能发电
* 核能電廠 / 核能电厂
* 概莫能外 (gàimònéngwài)
* 機械能 / 机械能 (jīxiènéng)
* 機能 / 机能 (jīnéng)
* 權能 / 权能 (quánnéng)
* 權能區分 / 权能区分
* 欲罷不能 / 欲罢不能 (yùbàbùnéng)
* 水能 (shuǐnéng)
* 活化能 (huóhuànéng)
* 海洋能
* 潛能 / 潜能 (qiánnéng)
* 焉能 (yānnéng)
* 無所不能 / 无所不能 (wúsuǒbùnéng)
* 無能 / 无能 (wúnéng)
* 無能為力 / 无能为力 (wúnéngwéilì)
* 無能為役 / 无能为役
* 熟能生巧 (shúnéngshēngqiǎo)
* 特殊才能
* 特異功能 / 特异功能 (tèyì gōngnéng)
* 甄才品能
* 生物潛能 / 生物潜能
* 生物能 (shēngwùnéng)
* 生產能力 / 生产能力
* 產能 / 产能 (chǎnnéng)
* 用賢任能 / 用贤任能
* 異能 / 异能 (yìnéng)
* 登高能賦 / 登高能赋
* 百無一能 / 百无一能
* 盡可能 / 尽可能
* 矜名嫉能
* 矜智負能 / 矜智负能
* 矜能負才 / 矜能负才
* 知盡能索 / 知尽能索
* 知能
* 知錯能改 / 知错能改 (zhīcuònénggǎi)
* 碌碌無能 / 碌碌无能
* 磁能 (cínéng)
* 萬能 / 万能 (wànnéng)
* 萬能膠 / 万能胶 (wànnéngjiāo)
* 萬能鑰匙 / 万能钥匙 (wànnéng yàoshi)
* 稟能 / 禀能
* 稱賢薦能 / 称贤荐能
* 積不相能 / 积不相能 (jībùxiāngnéng)
* 節約能源 / 节约能源
* 節能 / 节能 (jiénéng)
* 簡能 / 简能
* 粥粥無能 / 粥粥无能
* 精明能幹 / 精明能干
* 老嫗能解 / 老妪能解
* 耗能
* 耳熟能詳 / 耳熟能详 (ěrshúnéngxiáng)
* 職能 / 职能 (zhínéng)
* 職能治療 / 职能治疗 (zhínéng zhìliáo)
* 聽能 / 听能
* 肝功能 (gāngōngnéng)
* 肺功能 (fèigōngnéng)
* 能不
* 能事
* 能亨
* 能人 (néngrén)
* 能仁 (Néngrén)
* 能免則免 / 能免则免 (néngmiǎnzémiǎn)
* 能劇 / 能剧 (néngjù)
* 能力 (nénglì)
* 能力分班
* 能力刑
* 能力測驗 / 能力测验
* 能動 / 能动 (néngdòng)
* 能勾 (nénggòu)
* 能可
* 能吏
* 能名
* 能否 (néngfǒu)
* 能品
* 能員 / 能员
* 能士
* 能夠 / 能够 (nénggòu)
* 能屈能伸
* 能工巧匠
* 能幹 / 能干 (nénggàn)
* 能彀 (nénggòu)
* 能忍自安
* 能手 (néngshǒu)
* 能文善武
* 能束
* 能樣 / 能样
* 能樂 / 能乐 (néngyuè)
* 能歌擅舞
* 能源 (néngyuán)
* 能源危機 / 能源危机
* 能源效益
* 能為 / 能为 (néngwéi)
* 能牙利爪 (néngyálìzhǎo)
* 能率 (nénglǜ)
* 能者多勞 / 能者多劳 (néngzhěduōláo)
* 能者為師 / 能者为师
* 能耐 (néngnài)
* 能耗 (nénghào)
* 能臣 (néngchén)
* 能見度 / 能见度 (néngjiàndù)
* 能言 (néngyán)
* 能言善辯 / 能言善辩 (néngyánshànbiàn)
* 能言善道
* 能言快語 / 能言快语
* 能言慣道 / 能言惯道
* 能言舌辯 / 能言舌辩
* 能言鳥 / 能言鸟 (néngyánniǎo)
* 能說善道 / 能说善道
* 能說慣道 / 能说惯道
* 能說會道 / 能说会道 (néngshuōhuìdào)
* 能近取譬
* 能量 (néngliàng)
* 能願動詞 / 能愿动词 (néngyuàndòngcí)
* 能高山
* 自由能 (zìyóunéng)
* 舉賢任能 / 举贤任能
* 舉賢使能 / 举贤使能
* 良知良能
* 良能
* 薦賢任能 / 荐贤任能
* 薦賢舉能 / 荐贤举能
* 藝能 / 艺能 (yìnéng)
* 行為能力 / 行为能力 (xíngwéi nénglì)
* 行能
* 褊能
* 誇能鬥智 / 夸能斗智
* 豈能 / 岂能 (qǐnéng)
* 賢能 / 贤能 (xiánnéng)
* 超能力 (chāonénglì)
* 輻射能 / 辐射能
* 逞強稱能 / 逞强称能
* 逞異誇能 / 逞异夸能
* 逞能 (chěngnéng)
* 進賢任能 / 进贤任能
* 過而能改 / 过而能改
* 運能 / 运能
* 選賢任能 / 选贤任能
* 選賢與能 / 选贤与能
* 重力位能
* 量能課稅 / 量能课税
* 金錢萬能 / 金钱万能
* 雖覆能復 / 虽覆能复
* 雙手萬能 / 双手万能
* 難能 / 难能
* 難能可貴 / 难能可贵 (nánnéngkěguì)
* 電能 / 电能 (diànnéng)
* 風能 / 风能 (fēngnéng)
* 騁能 / 骋能
* 體能 / 体能 (tǐnéng)
* 高能 (gāonéng)

### Pronunciation 2

* Mandarin
    (Pinyin): nài (nai$^4$)
    (Zhuyin): ㄋㄞˋ
* Cantonese (Jyutping): noi$^6$
* Wu (Shanghai, Wugniu): $^6$ne
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: nài
*** Zhuyin: ㄋㄞˋ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: nài
*** Wade–Giles: nai$^4$
*** Yale: nài
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: nay
*** Palladius: най (naj)
*** Sinological IPA : /naɪ̯⁵¹/
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: noi$^6$
*** Yale: noih
*** Cantonese Pinyin: noi$^6$
*** Guangdong Romanization: noi$^6$
*** Sinological IPA : /nɔːi̯²²/
* Wu
** (Northern: Shanghai)
*** Wugniu: $^6$ne
*** MiniDict: ne$^去$
*** Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): $^3$ne
*** Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /ne²³/
* Middle Chinese: nojH
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 | /nʌi$^H$/ |
| Pan Wuyun | /nəi$^H$/ |
| Shao Rongfen | /nɒi$^H$/ |
| Edwin Pulleyblank | /nəj$^H$/ |
| Li Rong | /nᴀi$^H$/ |
| Wang Li | /nɒi$^H$/ |
| Bernhard Karlgren | /nɑ̆i$^H$/ |
| Expected Mandarin Reflex | nài |
| Expected Cantonese Reflex | noi$^6$ |
* Old Chinese
    (Zhengzhang): /*nɯːs/
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

能
* (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) Alternative form of 耐 (“to bear; to withstand”)
* a surname

### Pronunciation 3

* Mandarin
    (Pinyin): tái (tai$^2$)
    (Zhuyin): ㄊㄞˊ
* Cantonese (Jyutping): toi$^4$
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: tái
*** Zhuyin: ㄊㄞˊ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: tái
*** Wade–Giles: tʻai$^2$
*** Yale: tái
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: tair
*** Palladius: тай (taj)
*** Sinological IPA : /tʰaɪ̯³⁵/
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: toi$^4$
*** Yale: tòih
*** Cantonese Pinyin: toi$^4$
*** Guangdong Romanization: toi$^4$
*** Sinological IPA : /tʰɔːi̯²¹/

#### Definitions

能
* (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) Alternative form of 台 (“name of a Chinese constellation”)
    三能 ― sāntái ― Santai (Chinese constellation)

### Pronunciation 4

* Mandarin
    (Pinyin): tài (tai$^4$)
    (Zhuyin): ㄊㄞˋ
* Cantonese (Jyutping): taai$^3$
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: tài
*** Zhuyin: ㄊㄞˋ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: tài
*** Wade–Giles: tʻai$^4$
*** Yale: tài
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: tay
*** Palladius: тай (taj)
*** Sinological IPA : /tʰaɪ̯⁵¹/
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: taai$^3$
*** Yale: taai
*** Cantonese Pinyin: taai$^3$
*** Guangdong Romanization: tai$^3$
*** Sinological IPA : /tʰaːi̯³³/

#### Definitions

能
* (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) Alternative form of 態 / 态 (tài, “bearing; apparition; form; shape; status; position”)

### Pronunciation 5

* Mandarin
    (Pinyin): nái (nai$^2$)
    (Zhuyin): ㄋㄞˊ
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: nái
*** Zhuyin: ㄋㄞˊ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: nái
*** Wade–Giles: nai$^2$
*** Yale: nái
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: nai
*** Palladius: най (naj)
*** Sinological IPA : /naɪ̯³⁵/
* Middle Chinese: noj
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 | noi$^4$ |
* Old Chinese
    (Baxter–Sagart): /*nˤə/
    (Zhengzhang): /*nɯː/
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

能
* (obsolete) mythical three-legged soft-shelled turtle
    From: 趙曄 (Zhao Ye) 《吳越春秋》 "Wuyue Chunqiu"
    Guān gǔn zhī zhìshuǐ wú yǒu xíngzhuàng, nǎi jí gǔn yú yǔshān. Gǔn tóu yú shuǐ, huà wèi huángnái, yīn wèi yǔyuān zhī shén. [Pinyin]
    [Shun] saw that Gun's flood-taming had been in vain, so Gun was imprisoned for life in Yu Mountain. Gun threw himself into the water, and became a yellow three-legged soft-shelled turtle, and he therefore became the god of Yu abyss.

#### Compounds

* 三足能
* 黃能 / 黄能

### Pronunciation 6

* Mandarin
    (Pinyin): tāi, tái (tai$^1$, tai$^2$)
    (Zhuyin): ㄊㄞ, ㄊㄞˊ
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: tāi
*** Zhuyin: ㄊㄞ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: tai
*** Wade–Giles: tʻai$^1$
*** Yale: tāi
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: tai
*** Palladius: тай (taj)
*** Sinological IPA : /tʰaɪ̯⁵⁵/
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: tái
*** Zhuyin: ㄊㄞˊ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: tái
*** Wade–Giles: tʻai$^2$
*** Yale: tái
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: tair
*** Palladius: тай (taj)
*** Sinological IPA : /tʰaɪ̯³⁵/

#### Definitions

能
* (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) Only used in 能始 (tāishǐ, “origin; root cause”).

### Pronunciation 7

* Mandarin
    (Pinyin): xióng (xiong$^2$)
    (Zhuyin): ㄒㄩㄥˊ
* Cantonese (Jyutping): hung$^4$
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: xióng
*** Zhuyin: ㄒㄩㄥˊ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: syóng
*** Wade–Giles: hsiung$^2$
*** Yale: syúng
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: shyong
*** Palladius: сюн (sjun)
*** Sinological IPA : /ɕi̯ʊŋ³⁵/
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: hung$^4$
*** Yale: hùhng
*** Cantonese Pinyin: hung$^4$
*** Guangdong Romanization: hung$^4$
*** Sinological IPA : /hʊŋ²¹/

#### Definitions

能
* (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) Alternative form of 熊 (xióng, “bear”)

### References

* “能”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎, 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014–
* Dictionary of Chinese Character Variants (教育部異體字字典), A03329

## Japanese
### Kanji

(Fifth grade kyōiku kanji)
* ability
* talent
* skill
* capacity

#### Readings

* Go-on: のう (nō, Jōyō)、の (no)、ない (nai)
* Kan-on: どう (dō)、だい (dai)
* Kan’yō-on: たい (tai)
* Kun: あたう (atau, 能う)、よく (yoku, 能く)、よくする (yokusuru, 能くする)
* Nanori: たか (taka)、の (no)、のり (nori)、よし (yoshi)

#### Compounds

* 能(のう)動(どう) (nōdō): being active
* 能(のう)率(りつ) (nōritsu)
* 能(のう)力(りょく) (nōryoku): ability
* 可(か)能(のう) (kanō): possible
* 機(き)能(のう) (kinō)
* 技(ぎ)能(のう) (ginō)
* 芸(げい)能(のう) (geinō)
* 効(こう)能(のう) (kōnō)
* 才(さい)能(のう) (sainō)
* 性(せい)能(のう) (seinō)
* 堪(たん)能(のう) (tannō)
* 知(ち)能(のう) (chinō)
* 万(ばん)能(のう) (bannō)
* 不(ふ)能(のう) (funō)
* 本(ほん)能(のう) (honnō)
* 無(む)能(のう) (munō)
* 有(ゆう)能(のう) (yūnō)

### Noun

能(のう) • (nō)
* Noh, a form of classical Japanese musical drama.
* ability, capacity, aptitude.
* 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

* (drama): 能(のう)楽(がく) (nōgaku)

## Korean
### Etymology 1

From Middle Chinese 能 (MC nong).
* Recorded as Middle Korean 느ᇰ (Yale: nung) in Dongguk Jeongun (東國正韻 / 동국정운), 1448.
* Recorded as Middle Korean 느ᇰ (nung)$^訓$ (Yale: nung) in Hunmong Jahoe (訓蒙字會 / 훈몽자회), 1527.
* Recorded as Middle Korean 릉 (lung)$^訓$ (Yale: lung) in Sinjeung Yuhap (新增類合 / 신증유합), 1576.

#### Pronunciation

* (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA: [nɯŋ]
* Phonetic hangul: [능]

#### Hanja

Wikisource 能 (eumhun 능할 능 (neunghal neung))
* hanja form of 능 (“ability”)

#### Compounds

* 가능 (可能, ganeung)
* 감능 (堪能, gamneung)
* 관능 (官能, gwanneung)
* 권능 (權能, gwonneung)
* 기능 (技能, gineung)
* 기능 (機能, gineung)
* 능간 (能幹, neunggan)
* 능관 (能觀, neunggwan)
* 능동 (能動, neungdong)
* 능란 (能爛, neungnan)
* 능력 (能力, neungnyeok)
* 능률 (能率, neungnyul)
* 능변 (能辯, neungbyeon)
* 능사 (能事, neungsa)
* 능성 (能聲, neungseong)
* 능숙 (能熟, neungsuk)
* 능통 (能通, neungtong)
* 능필 (能筆, neungpil)
* 다능 (多能, daneung)
* 만능 (萬能, manneung)
* 무능 (無能, muneung)
* 방사능 (放射能, bangsaneung)
* 본능 (本能, bonneung)
* 불능 (不能, bulleung)
* 성능 (性能, seongneung)
* 수능 (修能, suneung)
* 역능 (力能, yeongneung)
* 예능 (藝能, yeneung)
* 예체능 (藝體能, yecheneung)
* 유능 (有能, yuneung)
* 재능 (才能, jaeneung)
* 지능 (智能, jineung)
* 지능 (知能, jineung)
* 직능 (職能, jingneung)
* 체능 (體能, cheneung)
* 효능 (效能, hyoneung)

### Etymology 2

Related to Middle Chinese 耐 (MC nojH).

#### Hanja

能 (eumhun 견딜 내 (gyeondil nae))
* (literary Chinese) Alternative form of 耐 (“hanja form of 내 (“endure; withstand”)”)

### References

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

## Old Japanese
### Etymology

From Middle Chinese 能 (MC nong).

### Phonogram

能 (no$_2$)
* Denotes phonographic syllable no$_2$.
    Synonym: 乃

### Further reading

* Miyake (2003) p. 33-34

## Vietnamese
### Han character

能: Hán Nôm readings: năng, hay, nấng, năn, nằng, nưng
* This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.