Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of phonetics. Ability to compare.
Symbolism
Ability, possible, Noh drama. Represents ability.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Bustle of the city
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
全知全能
ぜんちぜんのう
omniscience and omnipotence; omniscience and omnipotence
帰巣本能
きそうほんのう
homing instinct; homing instinct
無為無能
むいむのう
idle and incompetent; accomplishing nothing significant nor being capable of doing so; lacking the talent to do anything but idle away one's time; idle and incompetent
一芸一能
いちげいいちのう
(excelling in) one area or skill; (being skilled or gifted in) one certain area; (excelling in) one area or skill
再起不能
さいきふのう
being beyond recovery; having no hope of recovery; being beyond recovery
良知良能
りょうちりょうのう
one's innate intelligence and ability; one's innate intelligence and ability
Proverbs & Idioms
能ある鷹は爪を隠す
のうあるたかはつめをかくす
A capable hawk hides its talons
True ability doesn't need to be shown off
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 能 mean in Japanese?
能 means ability, talent, skill, capacity.
How do you read 能?
On'yomi: ノウ (NOU). Kun'yomi: よ.く、あた.う (yoku, atau).
How many strokes does 能 have?
能 has 10 strokes. Its radical is 肉 (meat).
Is 能 a good kanji for a tattoo?
Yes. 能 (ability, talent, skill, capacity) has a clear positive meaning and no embarrassing alternate readings, making it a solid tattoo choice.
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