function ⇒ 电视有教育功能。 Diànshì yǒu jiàoyù gōngnéng. → Television has an educational function. ⇒ 多功能电话 duōgōngnéng diànhuà → multi-functional telephone
可能
possible ⇒ 我们实现目标是可能的。 Wǒmen shíxiàn mùbiāo shì kěnéng de. → It's possible we'll realize our targets.
官能
sense
性能
function
才能
ability ⇒ 施展才能 shīzhǎn cáinéng → put one's abilities to use ⇒ 他有领导才能。 Tā yǒu lǐngdǎo cáinéng. → He has leadership qualities.
技能
skill
智能
intelligence and ability
本能
instinct
机能
function
职能
function
能人
⇒ 我们要让个能人来处理这件事。 Wǒmen yào ràng gè néngrén lái chǔlǐ zhè jiàn shì. → We should let somebody competent take care of this.
能力
ability
能动
active ⇒ 我们能动地改造世界。 Wǒmen néngdòng de gǎizào shìjiè. → We are working actively to change the world.
能够
be able to ⇒ 飞机一个小时后能够起飞。 Fēijī yī gè xiǎoshí hòu nénggòu qǐfēi. → The flight will be able to take off in an hour. ⇒ 有谁能够帮我解决这个问题？ Yǒu shuí nénggòu bāng wǒ jiějué zhège wèntí? → Who can help me solve this problem?
能干
capable
能手
expert
能源
energy ⇒ 能源短缺 néngyuán duǎnquē → energy shortage
能耐
ability
能量
( 物 ) energy
逞能
show off ( pt showed ) , pp shown ⇒ 他为了逞能,喝酒醉得东倒西歪。 Tā wèile chěngnéng, hējiǔ zuì de dōng dǎo xī wāi. → He showed off by drinking until he was staggering about all over the place.
力所能及
do everything in one's power ⇒ 红十字会将为战争受害者提供力所能及的援助。 Hóngshízìhuì jiāng wèi zhànzhēng shòuhàizhě tígòng lì suǒ néng jí de yuánzhù. → The Red Cross will do everything in their power to help the war victims. ⇒ 让孩子去做一些自己力所能及的家务事。 Ràng háizi qù zuò yīxiē zìjǐ lì suǒ néng jí de jiāwùshì. → Let the child do his best with the housework.
各尽所能
do what one can in one's role
嫉贤妒能
envy successful and talented people
无能为力
be powerless ⇒ 这件事我实在无能为力。 Zhè jiàn shì wǒ shízài wú néng wéi lì. → I'm powerless to do anything about this.
概莫能外
without exception
熟能生巧
practice makes perfect ⇒ 你要反复练习弹钢琴,毕竟熟能生巧嘛。 Nǐ yào fǎnfù liànxí tán gāngqín, bìjìng shú néng shēng qiǎo ma. → You need to constantly practice the piano. After all, practice makes perfect.
爱莫能助
have one's hands tied ⇒ 他有很多困难 ，但我爱莫能助。 Tā yǒu hěn duō kùnnan, dàn wǒ ài mò néng zhù. → He's having a lot of problems, but my hands are tied.
耳熟能详
⇒ 这个曲子我耳熟能详。 Zhège qǔzi wǒ ěr shú néng xiáng. → I've heard this tune so many times that I know it off by heart.
能量饮料
energy drink
难能可贵
highly commendable
English translation of '能'
能
(néng)
名
(= 能力) ability
⇒ 无才无能 (wú cái wú néng) untalented and incapable
(物, = 能量) energy
⇒ 能量 (néngliàng) energy
⇒ 核能 (hénéng) nuclear energy
形
capable
助动
can
⇒ 我能照顾好自己。 (Wǒ néng zhàogù hǎo zìjǐ.) I can take care of myself.
能 (néng), 会 (huì), and 可以 (kěyǐ) can all be used to express ability and are sometimes used interchangeably. Strictly,能 (néng) should be used to express physical ability, e.g. 我能跑得很快 (wǒ néng pǎo de hěn kuài) (I can run very fast), while 会 (huì) should express a learned ability, e.g. 我会说法语 (wǒ huì shuō Fǎyǔ) (I can speak French). Both 能 (néng) and 可以 (kěyǐ) can express being able to do something because you have been granted permission,e.g. 你能/可以借我的照相机 (nǐ néng/kěyǐ jiè wǒ de zhàoxiàngjī) (You can/may borrow my camera).