能 meaning and stroke order
Can; to be able to; might possibly
How to write 能, stroke by stroke
10 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 能
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- can
- to be able to
- might possibly
- ability
- (physics) energy
How 能 is built
Pictographic character. A bear's head 厶, body ⺼, and claws 匕.
Radical: ⺼ (meat), shared by 176 characters on this site.
How to remember 能
能 is a picture of a bear: 厶 is its head, ⺼ is its body, and the two 匕 on the right are its claws. A bear is strong and full of energy, so it can do almost anything.
能 (néng) is a common helping verb meaning "can" or "be able to," placed before the main verb. It also appears in nouns about ability and energy, like 能力 (nénglì) and 功能 (gōngnéng). Example: 你明天能来吗？ (Nǐ míngtiān néng lái ma?) Can you come tomorrow?
Common mistake: Learners often use 能 for learned skills where 会 (huì) sounds more natural. For example, 我会说中文 (I can speak Chinese) is better than 我能说中文 unless you mean you are able to in a specific situation. Also keep the right side as two stacked 匕, not 七 or 比.
Common words with 能
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 可能 | kěnéng | might (happen); possible | HSK 2 |
| 只能 | zhǐ néng | can only; obliged to do sth | HSK 2 |
| 能够 | nénggòu | to be capable of; to be able to | HSK 2 |
| 才能 | cáinéng | talent; ability | HSK 3 |
| 能力 | nénglì | capability; ability | HSK 3 |
| 功能 | gōngnéng | function; capability | HSK 3 |
| 能不能 | néng bu néng | HSK 3 | |
| 能干 | nénggàn | capable; competent | HSK 4 |
| 智能 | zhìnéng | intelligent; able | HSK 4 |
| 能量 | néngliàng | energy; capabilities | HSK 5 |
| 尽可能 | jìn kěnéng | as far as possible; to the best of one's ability | HSK 5 |
| 技能 | jìnéng | technical ability; skill | HSK 5 |
| 不能不 | bù néng bù | have to; cannot but | HSK 5 |
| 性能 | xìngnéng | function; performance; behavior | HSK 5 |
能 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 能
Learning 能 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 能
How many strokes are in 能?
能 is written with 10 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 能 mean?
能 (néng) means can; to be able to; might possibly. A common word with it is 可能 (kěnéng), meaning "might (happen); possible".
How do you pronounce 能?
能 is pronounced néng, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 能?
The radical of 能 is ⺼, which carries the idea of "meat". Dictionaries list 能 under this radical.
Is 能 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 能 is part of the HSK 1 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 1.
What is the difference between 能 and 可以?
能 focuses on ability or possibility, while 可以 (kěyǐ) is more about permission. 这里可以抽烟吗？ asks if smoking is allowed. In casual speech the two often overlap.
How do you say "cannot" with 能?
Put 不 in front: 不能 (bù néng) means "cannot" or "must not." 你不能走 (Nǐ bù néng zǒu) means "You can't leave." To ask a yes or no question, say 能不能 (néng bu néng).