Chinese–EnglishWith examples

才能

cái néng · cai neng

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 3

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. talent
  2. ability
  3. capacity
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In a conversation

0:17 cartoon

Climbing the mountain

  1. Liangliang

    灯灯(dēngdēng)，我们(wǒmen)什么时候(shénmeshíhou)到(dào)山顶(shāndǐng)？

    Dengdeng, when do we reach the summit?

  2. Dengdeng

    再(zài)走(zǒu)一个小时(yīgèxiǎoshí)才能(cáinéng)到(dào)。

    Walk another hour and only then can we arrive.

  3. Liangliang

    太(tài)累(lèi)了(le)，我(wǒ)想(xiǎng)休息(xiūxi)。

    I am too tired, I want to rest.

  4. Dengdeng

    到了(dàoliǎo)山顶(shāndǐng)才能(cáinéng)休息(xiūxi)，那里(nàli)有(yǒu)茶(chá)。

    Only at the summit can we rest, there is tea there.

  5. Liangliang

    好(hǎo)！有茶(yǒuchá)才能(cáinéng)走得动(zǒudedòng)。

    OK! Only with tea can I keep walking.

Tap a word for its meaning in this line. The characters’ voices are computer-generated.

In a sentence

2 examples
01

唯(wéi)有(yǒu)加(jiā)很(hěn)多(duō)糖(táng)才(cái)能(néng)让(ràng)我(wǒ)喝(hē)得(de)下(xià)粥(zhōu)。

The only way I can eat porridge is with lots of sugar.

Tatoeba: Chinese by DaoSeng · English by sundown · CC BY 2.0 FR. Simplified Chinese conversion; Pinyin added or corrected.

02

花(huā)了(le)很(hěn)久(jiǔ)才(cái)能(néng)听(tīng)懂(dǒng)她(tā)在(zài)说(shuō)什(shén)么(me)。

It took a long time to take in what she was saying.

Tatoeba: Chinese by mirrorvan · English by CM · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

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How to write

Stroke order & practice

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Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

The characters

Explore individually
才
cái

only then; just now; only (before a quantity)

能
néng

can; to be able to

Individual character meanings do not always explain the meaning of a whole word.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

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