能
Character learning workspace

néng · can, may

Master the form, understand its parts, and learn how it behaves in real Chinese.

HSK 2.0 · Level 1HSK 3.0 · Level 1Frequency #46
Watch · inspect · write

Learn every stroke in 能

Replay the complete order, pause on difficult movements, inspect one stroke at a time, then write it yourself with live correction.

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Stroke graphics: Make Me a Hanzi / Arphic Public License
Step-by-step explorer

See how 能 is constructed

Switch between the accumulated form and the isolated movement of each stroke.

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Writing notes

Shape and proportion

10Total strokes

Count each continuous pen movement once, including turns and hooks.

Left-rightCharacter structure

Keep the left side compact and leave enough room for the right side.

⺼Key radical

Use the highlighted radical in the animation as a visual anchor for remembering the form.

Print and practise

Download a 能 writing sheet

Get a ready-to-use A4 sheet immediately, or open the full builder to change its grid and guidance.

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Includes the stroke sequence, progressive tracing, and blank writing squares. Generated locally in your browser.

Vocabulary in context

Common words with 能

Open a word for its full breakdown, or listen before reading the meaning.

néngWords pronounced néng
Read and listen

Example sentences

Notice where 能 sits in each complete thought.

Shì de, zhè shì kě néng de.是的,这是可能的。

Yes, it's possible.

Source: Tatoeba #10986119 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā shuō de bù kě néng shì zhēn de.他说的不可能是真的。

What he said cannot be true.

Source: Tatoeba #3666915 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Zhè kě néng shì zhēn de, kě néng bú shì.这可能是真的,可能不是。

This might be real, or it might not.

Source: Tatoeba #336680 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Zhè shì bù kě néng de.这是不可能的。

This is impossible.

Source: Tatoeba #709492 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Nǐ kě néng shì duì de.你可能是对的。

Maybe you're right.

Source: Tatoeba #465867 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Zhè bù kě néng shì zhēn de.这不可能是真的。

It can't possibly be true.

Source: Tatoeba #1779292 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 能 in context

  1. Say néng, then recall the core meaning: can, may.
  2. Write all 10 strokes while keeping the left-right balanced.
  3. Use it in 可能 (kě néng), meaning “might”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 能 works in that context.

Definitions and traditional forms are compiled from Make Me a Hanzi, HSK curriculum data, and CC-CEDICT. Sourced example sentences link to Tatoeba; editorial examples are labeled separately. Review data sources and licenses.