Keywords: nengli, neng li, 能力, nengli meaning, Chinese word for ability, Chinese word for competence, what does nengli mean, capability in Chinese, nengli vs benshi, HSK 3 vocabulary
Summary: Discover the meaning of 能力 (nénglì), a fundamental Chinese word for “ability,” “capability,” or “competence.” More than just a simple skill, 能力 represents a person's overall capacity to achieve results, making it a crucial concept in professional, academic, and personal life in China. This guide breaks down its characters, cultural importance, and practical usage with clear examples to help you master this essential term.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): nénglì
Part of Speech: Noun
HSK Level: HSK 3
Concise Definition: The inherent or acquired power or capacity to do something; ability, competence.
In a Nutshell:能力 (nénglì) is the general, all-encompassing term for a person's capability. It’s not just about one specific skill, but rather the overall effectiveness and power a person has to accomplish tasks. Think of it as the “horsepower” behind a person's actions. Having good 能力 means you are competent, effective, and can be relied upon to handle things well.
Character Breakdown
能 (néng): The core meaning is “can,” “to be able to,” or “power.” It represents potential and the capacity to perform an action. Think of it as the “able to” part of ability.
力 (lì): This character is a pictograph of a plow or a flexed muscle, meaning “strength,” “force,” or “power.” It represents the actual force or effort involved.
When combined, 能力 (nénglì) literally translates to “able-strength” or “power-of-being-able.” This fusion creates a robust concept of competence: not just having the permission or a single skill, but possessing the comprehensive power and strength to execute tasks effectively.
Cultural Context and Significance
In Chinese culture, 能力 (nénglì) is a highly prized attribute that forms a cornerstone of personal and professional evaluation. It is a key measure of an individual's worth and potential contribution to a family, company, or society. A person is often judged by their 能力 to get things done.
Compared to the Western tendency to sometimes distinguish between innate “talent” and learned “skill,” 能力 (nénglì) is more holistic. It is the demonstrated output that matters most. Whether your competence comes from natural gifts (才能, cáinéng) or from tireless hard work and study is less important than the final result: a high level of 能力.
This concept is deeply tied to the cultural value of self-improvement (自我提升, zìwǒ tíshēng). It is widely believed that one's 能力 is not fixed but can and should be constantly developed through learning (学习, xuéxí) and practice. Praising someone's 能力 is one of the highest compliments you can give in a professional or academic setting.
Practical Usage in Modern China
In the Workplace: This is where 能力 is used most frequently. Job descriptions, interviews, and performance reviews are filled with this term.
工作能力 (gōngzuò nénglì): Work ability/competence. This is a standard phrase.
学习能力 (xuéxí nénglì): Learning ability. A student's ability to absorb and apply knowledge is considered a crucial form of 能力.
In Daily Life:
生活能力 (shēnghuó nénglì): Life skills/ability to live independently. This can refer to someone's ability to cook, clean, manage finances, and take care of themselves.
Connotation: The term is almost always positive or neutral. To say someone has 能力 is a compliment. To say they lack it (没有能力, méiyǒu nénglì) is a serious critique of their overall competence.
Example Sentences
Example 1:
他的工作能力很强，老板很信任他。
Pinyin: Tā de gōngzuò nénglì hěn qiáng, lǎobǎn hěn xìnrèn tā.
English: His work ability is very strong, so the boss trusts him a lot.
Analysis: This is a classic example of workplace praise. 能力强 (nénglì qiáng) is a key phrase for describing a competent employee.
Example 2:
这个问题太难了，超出了我的能力范围。
Pinyin: Zhège wèntí tài nán le, chāochū le wǒ de nénglì fànwéi.
English: This problem is too difficult; it's beyond the scope of my ability.
Analysis: A common and polite way to state that you are not capable of doing something. It's a statement of fact, not necessarily a self-criticism.
Example 3:
作为一个学生，最重要的就是学习能力。
Pinyin: Zuòwéi yīgè xuéshēng, zuì zhòngyào de jiùshì xuéxí nénglì.
English: As a student, the most important thing is your learning ability.
Analysis: This highlights how 能力 can be specified to a certain domain, in this case, “learning” (学习).
English: This company is currently recruiting talented people with management capabilities.
Analysis: Here, 能力 is specified as “management ability” (管理能力), a common requirement in job postings.
Example 6:
我怀疑他是否有能力完成这个项目。
Pinyin: Wǒ huáiyí tā shìfǒu yǒu nénglì wánchéng zhège xiàngmù.
English: I doubt whether he has the ability to complete this project.
Analysis: This shows how to express doubt about someone's competence using 能力.
Example 7:
他的语言能力非常出色，会说五种语言。
Pinyin: Tā de yǔyán nénglì fēicháng chūsè, huì shuō wǔ zhǒng yǔyán.
English: His language ability is outstanding; he can speak five languages.
Analysis: Another example of specifying the type of ability. “Language ability” (语言能力) is a standard term.
Example 8:
我们需要不断学习来提升自己的能力。
Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào bùduàn xuéxí lái tíshēng zìjǐ de nénglì.
English: We need to continuously study to improve our own abilities.
Analysis: This sentence reflects the cultural value of self-improvement mentioned earlier. 提升能力 (tíshēng nénglì) means “to enhance/improve one's ability.”
Reason:能力 (nénglì) is a noun (“ability”), not a modal verb like “can.” To express that you “can” do something, you should use verbs like 会 (huì) for learned skills or 能 (néng) for possibility/permission. To use the noun 能力, you must say you “have ability” (有能力).
Nuance: 能力 (nénglì) vs. 本事 (běnshi)
能力 (nénglì) is a general, often formal, term for competence and capability. It can be abstract, like “analytical ability.” (e.g., 他的分析能力很强 - His analytical ability is very strong.)
本事 (běnshi) refers to real, often impressive, and tangible skills or resourcefulness. It's more informal and sometimes carries a connotation of being clever or street-smart. You wouldn't typically use it on a formal resume. (e.g., 在野外生存，他可真有本事 - He's really got the skills/what it takes to survive in the wild.)
Nuance: 能力 (nénglì) vs. 才能 (cáinéng)
能力 (nénglì) is a broad term for capability, which can be learned or innate.
才能 (cáinéng) specifically refers to “talent” or a “gift,” implying a more natural, inborn ability, often in artistic or intellectual fields. (e.g., 他有很高的音乐才能 - He has a high degree of musical talent.)
Related Terms and Concepts
能干 (nénggàn) - An adjective meaning “capable” or “competent.” If you have 能力, you are 能干.
本事 (běnshi) - A more informal term for tangible, impressive skills or resourcefulness.
才能 (cáinéng) - Talent; a natural or innate gift for something.
技能 (jìnéng) - A specific, technical skill that can be trained, like coding or welding.
实力 (shílì) - “Actual strength.” Refers to the real, demonstrable power of a person, company, or country.
潜力 (qiánlì) - “Potential.” The latent or undeveloped ability that someone possesses.
水平 (shuǐpíng) - “Level” or “standard.” Used to measure the proficiency of a skill (e.g., 他的中文水平很高 - His Chinese level is very high).
才华 (cáihuá) - Brilliant talent, usually in the arts or literature.