CANTONESE ↔ ENGLISH · CC-CANTO

能

Cantonese · source Jyutpingnang4#

can
to be able to
might possibly
ability
(physics) energy

Cantonese · source Jyutpingnoi6#

an alternative form for 耐, endure

Cantonese · source Jyutpingtoi4#

name of a constellation

About these definitions

Source definition segments, in their original order. Characters a definition cites are shown without their Mandarin pinyin; classifier lists that CC-Canto copied from CC-CEDICT are marked Mandarin. The community dictionary is not independently verified by zimai.

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Reading & tones

nang44 · low falling

noi66 · low level

toi44 · low falling

Schematic citation-tone diagrams from the source numbers. These are not recordings or predictions of connected speech.

Same syllable, six tones

nangnang1—nang2—nang3—能nang4cannang5—nang6—

Characters whose customary Unihan reading (kCantonese) is this syllable in each tone, chosen as in the tone atlas (2013 standard level, then the number of CC-CEDICT words they form), with CC-Canto 2017's meaning for that reading; a dash means no catalogue character has that reading. Checked syllables (-p, -t, -k) normally carry tones 1, 3 and 6. Character readings, not word readings; no frequency implied.

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Written characters

能

Both source spellings are represented. Written membership is not an etymological or semantic claim.

Cantonese characters and the Mandarin bridge ↗

Mandarin comparison · separate source entries

CC-CEDICT, the Mandarin–English dictionary, lists the same written form:

能 Néng CC-CEDICT · Mandarinsurname Neng
能 néng CC-CEDICT · Mandarincan; to be able to; might possibly; ability; (physics) energy

A separate source entry, shown for comparison. The same characters can carry different senses in Mandarin and in Cantonese; zimai does not align these senses.

CC-Canto includes this pinyin reference: neng2. It does not establish a Mandarin word with the same meaning.

Look up this spelling in the Mandarin dictionary ↗

Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 20 senses · 3 Cantonese readings

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

nang4 · noi6 · toi4

Cantonese word readings for 能. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

CanCLID contributors · CC BY 4.0 · source & license · Data pack

Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

character

(obsolete) a kind of bear
(obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese, Chinese mythology) a mythological bear-like animal, with deer-like legs.
able; capable
can; to be able to; to be capable of; to be allowed to
to successfully do something (negate with 沒／没 (méi))
(dialectal) cocky
may; could
rather; would rather
ability; capability
talent; talented person
energy; power
(Sujiahu Wu, Wenzhounese, Jinhua and Quzhou Wu) way; manner
a surname

character

(obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) alternative form of 耐 (“to bear; to withstand”)
a surname

character

(obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) alternative form of 台 (“name of a Chinese constellation”)

character

(obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) alternative form of 態 /态 (tài, “bearing; apparition; form; shape; status; position”)

character

(obsolete) mythical three-legged soft-shelled turtle

character

(obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) only used in 能始 (tāishǐ, “origin; root cause”)

character

(obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) alternative form of 熊 (xióng, “bear”)

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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