能力 (nénglì)

能力 refers to the power, skill, or capacity to do something. It covers both innate abilities and developed competencies, and is one of the most frequently used nouns in formal Chinese across education, business, and policy contexts.

Meanings

[noun] ability; capability; capacity; competence

Example Sentences

批判性思维能力是大学教育最应该培养的核心能力之一。 Pīpàn xìng sīwéi nénglì shì dàxué jiàoyù zuì yīnggāi péiyǎng de héxīn nénglì zhī yī. Critical thinking ability is one of the core competencies that university education should most focus on developing.

面对突发事件，领导者的应变能力往往决定着危机处理的成败。 Miànduì tūfā shìjiàn, lǐngdǎo zhě de yìngbiàn nénglì wǎngwǎng juédìng zhe wēijī chǔlǐ de chéngbài. When facing unexpected events, a leader's adaptability often determines the success or failure of crisis management.

他通过大量练习，显著提升了自己的语言表达能力。 Tā tōngguò dàliàng liànxí, xiǎnzhù tíshēngle zìjǐ de yǔyán biǎodá nénglì. Through extensive practice, he significantly improved his ability to express himself in language.

企业在招聘时越来越注重应聘者的实际工作能力，而不仅仅是学历。 Qǐyè zài zhāopìn shí yuè lái yuè zhùzhòng yìngpìn zhě de shíjì gōngzuò nénglì, ér bùjǐnjǐn shì xuélì. Enterprises are paying increasing attention to candidates' actual work ability rather than just their academic qualifications when hiring.

政府提出要加大对职业教育的投入，提升劳动者的职业技能和就业能力。 Zhèngfǔ tíchū yào jiādà duì zhíyè jiàoyù de tóurù, tíshēng láodòng zhě de zhíyè jìnéng hé jiùyè nénglì. The government has proposed to increase investment in vocational education to improve workers' vocational skills and employability.

在数字经济时代，数据分析能力已成为许多岗位的必备素质。 Zài shùzì jīngjì shídài, shùjù fēnxī nénglì yǐ chéngwéi xǔduō gǎngwèi de bìbèi sùzhì. In the digital economy era, data analysis ability has become an essential quality for many positions.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
培养能力	to develop/cultivate ability
提升能力	to improve capability
综合能力	overall/comprehensive ability
创新能力	innovative ability
就业能力	employability
能力不足	insufficient ability; lack of competence

Usage Notes

能力 is extremely productive in Chinese and almost always appears with a domain modifier: 语言能力 (language ability), 管理能力 (management ability), 分析能力 (analytical ability). The phrase 有能力做某事 (to be capable of doing something) is the standard structure.

Note the difference between 能力 (general capacity/competence) and 技能 (skill -- more specific, practised technique) and 才能 (talent -- implies natural gift combined with developed skill).

Memory Hook

能 (can/able to) + 力 (power/force) -- the power that makes you able: your capability.