gōngnéng: 功能 - Function, Feature, Capability

• Keywords: gongneng, gōngnéng, 功能, function in Chinese, feature in Chinese, capability, purpose, Chinese tech vocabulary, Chinese for function, HSK 4 vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 功能 (gōngnéng), which means “function,” “feature,” or “capability.” This page breaks down its meaning, from describing the features of your new smartphone and the purpose of a software button to its use in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Discover how to use 功能 correctly in everyday conversation, understand its cultural significance in modern, tech-driven China, and avoid common mistakes by distinguishing it from similar words like 作用 (zuòyòng) and 能力 (nénglì).

• Pinyin (with tone marks): gōngnéng
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: The inherent purpose, feature, or capability of an object, system, or bodily organ.
• In a Nutshell: 功能 (gōngnéng) is a highly practical and objective term used to describe what something *does*. Think of the list of features on a product box, the different settings in an app, or the biological role of your heart. It's about the designed, built-in abilities of an inanimate object or a system, not the potential or skill of a person.

• 功 (gōng): This character means “merit,” “achievement,” or “result.” It's composed of 工 (gōng), meaning “work” or “labor,” and 力 (lì), meaning “strength” or “power.” So, 功 represents the successful outcome of applying effort and power.
• 能 (néng): This character means “ability,” “capability,” or “can.” It signifies having the capacity to perform an action.
• Together, 功能 (gōngnéng) literally translates to “achievement-ability” or “work-capability.” This combination perfectly captures the idea of a specific, tangible function that a thing is able to perform as a result of its design.

While 功能 (gōngnéng) may seem like a straightforward, universal technical term, its prevalence in modern China is deeply tied to the country's explosive technological growth and consumer culture. The term is everywhere—in advertisements for the latest smartphones, on the dashboards of new electric vehicles, and in the user interfaces of countless apps like WeChat and Alipay. The constant discussion of new and improved 功能 reflects a societal focus on innovation, efficiency, and material progress. A useful comparison is to the English word “function.” While they are very close, 功能 is often used more broadly to mean a “set of features.” An English speaker might say a phone has “a lot of features,” whereas a Chinese speaker would very naturally say the phone has “many 功能” (很多功能, hěn duō gōngnéng). Furthermore, 功能 has an important, non-technical meaning in the context of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). A doctor might discuss the 功能 of the liver (肝功能, gān gōngnéng) or spleen (脾功能, pí gōngnéng) not just in a strictly biological sense, but in a holistic, systemic way that includes its relationship with qi (气), blood (血), and other organs. This dual use in both cutting-edge technology and ancient medicine makes 功能 a versatile and significant word in modern life.

功能 is a neutral, common term used across various contexts, from casual conversation to formal technical documents.

This is the most common usage. It's used to describe the features of any electronic device, software, or appliance.

• “This phone's camera function is excellent.”
• “Does this rice cooker have a timer function?”

It's used to describe the physiological role of organs or bodily systems.

• “The doctor said my liver function is normal.” (肝功能, gān gōngnéng)
• “Exercise can improve cardiopulmonary function.” (心肺功能, xīnfèi gōngnéng)

It can refer to the designated role or responsibility of a department or a position, though this is slightly more formal.

• “We need to clarify the functions of each department.”

• Example 1:
  • 这款新手机有许多强大的功能。
  • Pinyin: Zhè kuǎn xīn shǒujī yǒu xǔduō qiángdà de gōngnéng.
  • English: This new model of phone has many powerful functions/features.
  • Analysis: A very common sentence structure for talking about products. 强大 (qiángdà - powerful) is a frequent adjective for 功能.
• Example 2:
  • 这个按钮的功能是什么？
  • Pinyin: Zhège ànniǔ de gōngnéng shì shénme?
  • English: What is the function of this button?
  • Analysis: A perfect, practical question for beginners to learn. It's direct and useful in many situations.
• Example 3:
  • 我最喜欢这个APP的翻译功能。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zuì xǐhuān zhège APP de fānyì gōngnéng.
  • English: I like the translation feature of this app the most.
  • Analysis: This shows how 功能 can refer to a specific, singular feature within a larger system.
• Example 4:
  • 医生说我的消化功能不太好。
  • Pinyin: Yīshēng shuō wǒ de xiāohuà gōngnéng bú tài hǎo.
  • English: The doctor said my digestive function isn't very good.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates the medical use of 功能. Here, 消化功能 (xiāohuà gōngnéng) is a set phrase for “digestive function.”
• Example 5:
  • 这台洗衣机有自动烘干的功能吗？
  • Pinyin: Zhè tái xǐyījī yǒu zìdòng hōnggān de gōngnéng ma?
  • English: Does this washing machine have an automatic drying function?
  • Analysis: A typical consumer question. The structure “[Device] + 有 + [Description] + 的 + 功能 + 吗?” is very useful.
• Example 6:
  • 微信的支付功能非常方便。
  • Pinyin: Wēixìn de zhīfù gōngnéng fēicháng fāngbiàn.
  • English: WeChat's payment function is extremely convenient.
  • Analysis: This highlights a specific, well-known function of a major app, making it highly contextual.
• Example 7:
  • 除了打电话，智能手机最重要的功能就是上网。
  • Pinyin: Chúle dǎ diànhuà, zhìnéng shǒujī zuì zhòngyào de gōngnéng jiùshì shàngwǎng.
  • English: Besides making calls, the most important function of a smartphone is accessing the internet.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses a comparative structure to emphasize a key function.
• Example 8:
  • 这个软件的功能很齐全，但界面有点复杂。
  • Pinyin: Zhège ruǎnjiàn de gōngnéng hěn qíquán, dàn jièmiàn yǒudiǎn fùzá.
  • English: This software's functions are very complete, but the interface is a bit complicated.
  • Analysis: 功能齐全 (gōngnéng qíquán) is a common collocation meaning “fully-featured” or “has all the functions.”
• Example 9:
  • 为了安全，我们关闭了系统的这个功能。
  • Pinyin: Wèile ānquán, wǒmen guānbìle xìtǒng de zhège gōngnéng.
  • English: For safety, we disabled this function of the system.
  • Analysis: Shows that 功能 can be activated or deactivated (关闭, guānbì - to close, turn off).
• Example 10:
  • 我们公司的市场部主要有三个功能。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī de shìchǎngbù zhǔyào yǒu sān ge gōngnéng.
  • English: Our company's marketing department mainly has three functions.
  • Analysis: A clear example of its use in a business context to describe the roles or responsibilities of a department.

The most common mistake for learners is confusing 功能 (gōngnéng) with 作用 (zuòyòng) and 能力 (nénglì).

• 功能 (gōngnéng) vs. 作用 (zuòyòng):
  • 功能 is the *inherent, designed feature* of an object. It's objective and part of the thing itself.
    • Correct: 这个手机有拍照功能。 (Zhège shǒujī yǒu pāizhào gōngnéng.) - This phone has a photo-taking function.
  • 作用 (zuòyòng) is the *effect, role, or impact* that something has in a particular situation. It's about the outcome.
    • Correct: 这种药有止痛的作用。 (Zhèzhǒng yào yǒu zhǐtòng de zuòyòng.) - This medicine has a pain-relieving effect.
  • Common Mistake: Saying “这个药有止痛的功能。” (This medicine has a pain-relieving feature.) This sounds strange, as if pain relief is a selectable menu option on the medicine rather than its chemical effect.
• 功能 (gōngnéng) vs. 能力 (nénglì):
  • 功能 is for things: objects, systems, organs.
  • 能力 (nénglì) is for beings: people, and sometimes organizations or countries. It means “ability,” “skill,” or “capability.”
  • Common Mistake: Saying “我的功能很强。” (My function is very strong.) to mean “I am very capable.” This is incorrect and sounds robotic.
    • Correct: 我的能力很强。 (Wǒ de nénglì hěn qiáng.) - My ability is very strong / I am very capable.
    • Correct: 这个电脑的功能很强。 (Zhège diànnǎo de gōngnéng hěn qiáng.) - This computer's functions are very powerful.

• 作用 (zuòyòng) - Effect, role, impact. Describes the outcome or influence of an action or object, as opposed to its built-in feature.
• 性能 (xìngnéng) - Performance. A more specific term than 功能, often referring to the quality of operation, like a car's speed and handling or a computer's processing power.
• 能力 (nénglì) - Ability, skill, capability. Used almost exclusively for people and other living beings or personified entities like companies.
• 特点 (tèdiǎn) - Characteristic, distinguishing feature. Overlaps with 功能 but emphasizes what makes something unique or special. A feature (功能) can also be a characteristic (特点).
• 用途 (yòngtú) - Use, application. Describes how a thing or its function is applied in practice. A camera's 功能 is to take pictures; its 用途 could be for professional photography or casual selfies.
• 效能 (xiàonéng) - Efficacy, efficiency. Refers to how well a function works and achieves its intended result.
• 设备 (shèbèi) - Equipment, device. The physical object that *has* 功能.
• 系统 (xìtǒng) - System. The larger structure or network in which a 功能 operates.