能
能 (néng) means “can”. It is made of 厶 + ⺼ + 匕 + 匕 and has 10 strokes, and is an HSK 1 word in the current exam syllabus (2025).
Break 能 into its parts
What 能 is made of
- 厶 sī — private
- ⺼ — meat
- 匕 bǐ — spoon
- 乚 — hook stroke
- 丿 — falling stroke
- 匕 bǐ — spoon
- 乚 — hook stroke
- 丿 — falling stroke
Origin hint: A bear's head 厶, body ⺼, and claws 匕 (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
能 stroke order
Example sentences
你明天能来吗？Nǐ míngtiān néng lái ma?Can you come tomorrow?
我能吃三个包子。Wǒ néng chī sān gè bāozi.I can eat three steamed buns.
Words with 能
- 可能kěnéngmaybe
- 能够nénggòucan
- 只能zhǐnéngcan only
- 才能cáinéngtalent
- 功能gōngnéngfunction
- 能不能néng bu néngcan or not
- 能力nénglìability
- 能干nénggàncapable
- 智能zhìnéngsmart
- 能源néngyuánenergy
- 本能běnnénginstinct
- 力所能及lìsuǒnéngjíwithin one's ability
- 难能可贵nánnéngkěguìrare and commendable
- 能量néngliàngenergy
- 无能为力wúnéngwéilìpowerless
- 性能xìngnéngperformance
- 职能zhínéngfunction
- 能否néngfǒuwhether or not
Also built with ⿱
- 串chuànstring
- 乐lèhappy
- 亮liàngbright
- 伤shānginjury
- 侃kǎnupright and strong
- 其qíhis
- 具jùtool
- 兼jiānboth
- 兽shòubeast
- 前qiánfront
- 劳láoto labor
- 卸xièto unload
Quick facts
| Pinyin | néng |
|---|---|
| Meaning | can; to be able to |
| Strokes | 10 |
| Radical | 肉 (meat; flesh, #130) |
| Pattern | Left–right |
| HSK | HSK 1 (exam 2025) · HSK 1 (2021) · Old HSK 1 |
Questions about 能
What does 能 mean?
能 (néng) means “can; to be able to”.
How many strokes does 能 have?
能 has 10 strokes.
What is the radical of 能?
The radical of 能 is 肉 (ròu, “meat; flesh”), Kangxi radical number 130.
What parts make up 能?
能 is made of 厶 (private) and ⺼ (meat) and 匕 (spoon) and 匕 (spoon).
Which HSK level is 能?
能 is in HSK 1 (exam 2025) and HSK 1 (2021) and Old HSK 1.
Learn 能 with its group
It is part of HSK 1 (2021) · Group 7: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.