Chinese–EnglishWith examples

能力

néng lì · neng li

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 3Old HSK 4Measure word: 个 gè

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. capability
  2. ability
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In a conversation

0:20 cartoon

A special ability

  1. Liangliang

    你(nǐ)有(yǒu)什么(shénme)特别(tèbié)的(de)能力(nénglì)？

    What is your special ability?

  2. Dengdeng

    我(wǒ)每天(měitiān)都(dōu)在(zài)闹钟(nàozhōng)响(xiǎng)前(qián)一分钟(yīfēnzhōng)醒(xǐng)。

    I wake up one minute before my alarm every day.

  3. Liangliang

    哇(wa)，这个(zhège)能力(nénglì)真好(zhēnhǎo)！每天(měitiān)吗(ma)？

    Wow, what a great ability! Every day?

  4. Dengdeng

    每天(měitiān)。然后(ránhòu)我(wǒ)躺着(tǎngzhe)等(děng)闹钟(nàozhōng)。

    Every day. Then I lie there and wait for the alarm.

  5. Liangliang

    这(zhè)不是(bùshì)能力(nénglì)，你(nǐ)只是(zhǐshì)少睡(shǎoshuì)了(le)一分钟(yīfēnzhōng)！

    That is not an ability. You just sleep one minute less!

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In a sentence

2 examples
01

你(nǐ)记(jì)事(shì)情(qing)的(de)能(néng)力(lì)并(bìng)不(bù)比(bǐ)我(wǒ)好(hǎo)多(duō)少(shǎo)。

You are no better at remembering things than I am.

Tatoeba: Chinese by sadhen · English by CK · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

02

我(wǒ)觉(jué)得(de)他(tā)是(shì)一(yí)个(gè)有(yǒu)能(néng)力(lì)的(de)人(rén)。

I think he's a man of ability.

Tatoeba: Chinese by nickyeow · English by CH · CC BY 2.0 FR. Simplified Chinese conversion; 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
能
néng

can; to be able to

力
lì

power; force

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.

More words starting with NExplore words in context