能 néng — able, can, bear · English

能

néng

able, can, bear

At a glance · 能

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Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

能字甲骨文象熊形，本义为熊（一种猛兽），后借为才能、能够。金文、小篆承之。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

能本义为熊，假借为能力、能够。

Structure

能为象形字，描摹熊之形；其『能（néng）』义为假借。

At a glance

Pinyinnéng

Radical月

Strokes10

UnicodeU+80FD

Character type象形

Theme其他

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English able, can, bear Neng was originally a pictograph of a bear and was borrowed to mean able and can.

Français pouvoir, capable Neng était à l'origine un pictogramme d'ours et a été emprunté pour pouvoir et capable.

Español poder, capaz Neng era originalmente un pictograma de oso y se tomó prestado para poder y capaz.

العربية يستطيع، قادر نينغ كان في الأصل رسماً لدب ثم استُعير للاستطاعة والقدرة.

Русский мочь, способный Нэн изначально было пиктограммой медведя и было заимствовано для значений мочь и способный.

Common words

能力néng lìability
能够néng gòucan

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