能 (néng) is a Chinese character meaning “can”. It is written from 厶 (private component) and 月 (moon; month) and 匕 (ancient spoon; dagger) and 匕 (ancient spoon; dagger), side by side, and takes 10 strokes.
Build the character for “to be able to; can”
Four steps: break it apart, build it, recall it, use it in a word.
StartLearn this character
Structure
厶 + 月 + 匕 + 匕
Left–right structure
- 厶 private component · sī unknown
- 月 moon; month · yuè unknown
- 匕 ancient spoon; dagger · bǐ unknown
- 匕 ancient spoon; dagger · bǐ unknown
Structure from: hanzi-writer-data 笔画分组核验（现代字形拆分：左 厶[0-1]+月[2-5]，右 匕[6-7]+匕[8-9]）
Memory aid
On the left, 厶 sits on top of 月; on the right, one 匕 is stacked on another 匕. Picture a sturdy body (月) with two spoons (匕) ready to work — someone who is able to do things.
This is a memory aid, not the historical origin.
Stroke order
10 strokes
In real words
- 能力néng lìability; capability能 = néng
- 可能kě néngpossible; maybe能 = néng
- 才能cái néngtalent; ability能 = néng
- 能够néng gòuto be able to; can能 = néng
Go deeper
All readings
can; able
can; to be able to; ability; energy
能够；有能力做某事。也指才干、能量。 — studyhanzi 编写
Words with this reading
- 能力néng lìability; capability能 = néng
- 可能kě néngpossible; maybe能 = néng
- 才能cái néngtalent; ability能 = néng
- 能够néng gòuto be able to; can能 = néng
Stroke data: hanzi-writer-data (Arphic Public License) · licenses & attributions
Questions people ask about this character
What does 能 mean?
能 (néng) means can; to be able to; ability; energy.
How do you pronounce 能?
It is pronounced néng.
What parts is 能 made of?
厶 (private component) and 月 (moon; month) and 匕 (ancient spoon; dagger) and 匕 (ancient spoon; dagger), side by side. The recorded source is: hanzi-writer-data 笔画分组核验（现代字形拆分：左 厶[0-1]+月[2-5]，右 匕[6-7]+匕[8-9]）. Components are the building blocks of the shape; the radical used for dictionary lookup is a separate thing.
How many strokes does 能 have?
10. You can watch the stroke order on this page, or trace it yourself.
What is the radical of 能?
月. The radical is how the character is filed in a dictionary — it is not the whole story of how the character is built.
What words use 能?
Common ones are 能力, 可能, 才能. The reading of 能 is not the same in every word, so each word on this page shows which reading applies.