能 from HSK Level 1 Vocabulary List

The Chinese character 能 (néng) is composed of two parts: the radical 力 (lì), which means "strength" or "power," and the phonetic component 艮 (gěn), which is a variant of the character 根 (gēn), meaning "root." The combination of these two components suggests the idea of "being able to do something" or "having the strength to do something."The earliest known use of the character 能 dates back to the Shang dynasty (c. 1600-1046 BC), where it was used in oracle bone inscriptions. In these inscriptions, 能 was used as a verb meaning "to be able to" or "to be capable of." Over time, the meaning of 能 expanded to include the sense of "potential" or "ability."In modern Chinese, 能 is commonly used as a modal verb, expressing the speaker's ability or permission to do something. It can also be used as an adjective, meaning "capable" or "competent." For example, the sentence 我能说中文 (wǒ néng shuō zhōngwén) means "I can speak Chinese," while the sentence 他很能干 (tā hěn nénggàn) means "He is very capable."The character 能 is also used in a number of idioms and proverbs. For example, the idiom 能者多劳 (néng zhě duō láo) means "The more capable a person is, the more work they have to do," while the proverb 艺多不压身 (yì duō bù yā shēn) means "The more skills you have, the less burdened you will be."In conclusion, the character 能 is a versatile and important character in the Chinese language. It has a rich history and a wide range of meanings, and it is used in a variety of contexts. By understanding the etymology and usage of 能, HSK learners can gain a deeper understanding of the Chinese language and culture.