Chinese–EnglishWith examples

能耐

néng nài · neng nai

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 7–9

Meaning

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

0:18 cartoon

Uncle Wang fixes his bike

  1. Dengdeng

    隔壁(gébì)王叔(wángshū)的(de)自行车(zìxíngchē)坏(huài)了(le)。

    Uncle Wang next door's bike is broken.

  2. Liangliang

    他(tā)很(hěn)有(yǒu)能耐(néngnài)，自己(zìjǐ)就(jiù)能(néng)修好(xiūhǎo)。

    He is very capable. He can fix it himself.

  3. Dengdeng

    他(tā)哪(nǎ)有(yǒu)什么(shénme)能耐(néngnài)？上次(shàngcì)修(xiū)了(le)一个(yīgè)小时(xiǎoshí)。

    What skill? Last time he spent an hour fixing it.

  4. Liangliang

    这次(zhècì)不(bù)一样(yīyàng)，他(tā)还(hái)给(gěi)车(chē)加(jiā)了(le)灯(dēng)。

    This time is different. He even added a light to the bike.

  5. Dengdeng

    好大(hǎodà)的(de)能耐(néngnài)，晚上(wǎnshang)骑车(qíchē)不怕(bùpà)黑(hēi)了(le)。

    Great skill. Now he is not afraid of the dark when riding at night.

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In a sentence

2 examples
01

他(tā)很(hěn)有(yǒu)能(néng)耐(nài)，一(yí)个(gè)人(rén)解(jiě)决(jué)了(le)这(zhè)个(gè)难(nán)题(tí)。

He is very capable and solved this difficult problem by himself.

02

别(bié)小(xiǎo)看(kàn)她(tā)的(de)能(néng)耐(nài)，她(tā)做(zuò)事(shì)又(yòu)快(kuài)又(yòu)好(hǎo)。

Don't underestimate her ability; she works quickly and well.

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

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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