ABLE    能夠能

HAVE FEATURES one NEEDS in SELF:oneself FOR ACHIEVING something.
CAPABLE OFCOMPETENT TOEQUAL TOUP TOFIT TOPREPARED TOQUALIFIED TOALLOWED TOFREE TOIN A POSITION TO
Old Chinese Criteria
[ABSOLUTE/GRADED] [ARCHAIC/CURRENT] [DIFFICULT/EASY] [ENDOGENIC/EXOGENIC] [EMOTIONAL/UNEMOTIONAL] [INCIDENTAL/INHERENT] [INNATE/ACQUIRED] [LASTING!/TEMPORARY] [PHYSICAL/PSYCHOLOGICAL] [PRACTICAL/THEORETICAL] 1. The commonest word is néng 能 "have an inherent capacity for, have the personal ability to". [CURRENT], [ENDOGENIC], [GRADED], [LASTING] 2. Kě yǐ 可以 "be in an objective position to, have the possibility to". [ABSOLUTE], [CURRENT], [EXOGENIC], [TEMPORARY!] 3. Zú yǐ 足以 emphasises sufficiency of conditions necessary to get something done. [CURRENT], [GRADED], [INHERENT], [PHYSICAL] 4. Kè 克 typically comes to emphasise the ability to do something difficult in post-archaic times, but the word was equivalent to néng 能 in early texts. [ABSOLUTE], [ARCHAIC], [INCIDENTAL], [TEMPORARY], [PHYSICAL] 5. Rén 任 emphasises a general qualification to achieve something worth achieving and not obviously easy to achieve. [ABSOLUTE], [CURRENT], [DIFFICULT], [ENDOGENIC], [TEMPORARY] 6. Kān 堪 typically refers to the ability to do something others might not be willing or psychologically able to do. [ABSOLUTE], [CURRENT], [DIFFICULT], [EMOTIONAL], [ENDOGENIC], [PSYCHOLOGICAL] 7. Jì 技 "expertise, know-how" refers to the talents for crafts and the like, and the word is not normally used as a verb. See SKILL. [ACQUIRED], [CURRENT], [DIFFICULT], [GRADED], [LASTING], [PRACTICAL] 8. Lì 力 "strength" is sometimes used to refer to an ability to do something which in some sense requires strength. 9. Zhī 知 refers to the intellectual ability to do something, especially to do something that is not intellectually trivial. 10. Jì néng 技能 refers to a lasting acquired skill. NB: Dé 得 "cope, show an ability to do something by actually doing it" is an achievement verb and does not belong in this group. See COPE.
Modern Chinese Criteria
能夠 能 會 可以 得以 足以 得 堪 好 可 足 有何不可 何嘗不可 rough draft to BEGIN TO identify synonym group members for analysis, based on CL etc. 18.11.2003. CH ／
Hyponym
  • FERTILE　ABLE, as SOIL OR TERRITORY, to CAUSE PLANTS to GROW ABUNDANTLY. (anc: 7/0, child: 0)
  • SHARP　ABLE to CUT OR PIERCE. (anc: 7/0, child: 0)
  • SKILLFUL　ABLE to ACT:do something BECAUSE one has LEARNT NECESSARY METHODS.  (anc: 7/0, child: 6)
  • STRONG　ABLE to ACHIEVE DIFFICULT TASKS of the BODY OR to the MIND. (anc: 7/0, child: 7)
  • VISIBLE　ABLE to be SEEN. (anc: 7/0, child: 0)
  • AWARE　ABLE to VOLUNTARILY:deliberately REACT to.  (anc: 7/0, child: 3)
  • PERHAPS　ABLE to HAPPEN OR ABLE to be TRUE. (anc: 7/0, child: 0)
  • POSSIBLE　ABLE TO BE DONE OR ABLE TO HAPPEN, OR ABLE TO BE THE CASE.  (anc: 7/0, child: 3)
  • EMPATHY　ABILITY to IMAGINE INTENSELY BEING a DIFFERENT PERSON one INTERACTS with. (anc: 7/0, child: 0)
  • SELF-SUFFICIENCY　ABLE to be CAUSE THINGS TO BE SUFFICIENT FOR one's SELF:own NEEDS. (anc: 7/0, child: 0)
  • PRODUCTIVITY　DEGREE of the ABILITY to PRODUCE MANY of the SAME THINGS. (anc: 7/0, child: 0)
  • ORIGINALITY　ABLE to CREATE NEW THINGS. (anc: 7/0, child: 0)
  • SENSIBILITY　ABILITY to HAVE TENUOUS AND PROFOUND FEELINGS. (anc: 7/0, child: 1)
  • UNDERSTANDING　ABILITY to UNDERSTAND, AND to EXPLAIN. (anc: 7/0, child: 0)
  • TASTE　ABILITY to JUDGE BEAUTY AND UGLINESS. (anc: 7/0, child: 0)
  • SENSES　ABILITY to PERCEIVE. (anc: 7/0, child: 0)
Antonym
  • UNABLELACK ABILITY to ACT:do something.
    See also
    • KNOWBELIEVE SOMETHING AND ASSUME:presuppose that it is TRUE.
    • TALENTINTENSELY AND IMPORTANTLY SKILLFUL OR WISE.
    Hypernym
    • HAVE　RELATION to something such that it BE-IN:is in one OR is CONTROLLED by one. (anc: 5/0, child: 5)
    • RELATION　FEATURE of TWO OR MORE THINGS TOGETHER. (anc: 4/0, child: 15)
    • FEATURE　ABSTRACT OBJECT a THING is SAID to BE OR to HAVE. (anc: 3/0, child: 19)
  • A Dictionary of Selected Synonyms in the Principal Indo-European Languages ( BUCK 1988) p. 9.95

  • De Rerum Humanarum Emendatione ( COMENIUS 1665) p. 617©

    POSSE est vires ad aliqvid habere.

    Generalius loqvendo potentia sive facultas ad res agendum triplex est

    1. per proprias Vires, et haec est Qvalitas, Pollentia, Robur. 2. per impedimentorum absentiam, et haec est Libertas, Licentia, Jus, Fas, Authoritas, Venia. 3. Per res ipsas commode se offerentes: haec dicitur Occasio, Opportunitas, Commoditas.

  • Lateinische Synonyme und Etymologien ( DOEDERLEIN 1840) p.

    CAN

    posse refers to an ability as a consequence of power or strength.

    quire refers to an ability as a conseq uence of a consummate qualification.

    valere refers to the possession of the right measure of strenght in order to live up to a certain task or to handle a situation.

    pollere refers to the possession of very considerable strength or other means whereby one excels others in the ability to do things or to get one's will.

  • Traite elementaire des synonymes grecques ( DUFOUR 1910) p. 146

  • 古辭辨 Gu ci bian ( WANG FENGYANG 1993) p. 991

  • 王力古漢語字典 ( WANG LI 2000) p. 102

    1. From a semantic point of view what needs to be compared with ne2ng 能 is not only ke3 可 which does differ in obvious ways with regard to passivisation of the verb it governs, but ke3 yi3 可以. It is in the latter contrast that serious misunderstandings are easy to find.

  • 王力古漢語字典 ( WANG LI 2000) p. 976

    耐，能

    See ENDURE

  • Using Chinese Synonyms ( GRACE ZHANG 2010) p. 252

  • The Encyclopedia of Philosophy ( BORCHERT 2005) p.

    CAN

  • SYNONYMES FRANÇOIS, LEURS DIFFÉRENTES SIGNIFICATIONS, ET LE CHOIX QU'IL EN FAUT FAIRE Pour parler avec justesse ( GIRARD 1769) p. 1.9:8

    CAPACITE.HABILITE; HABILE.SAVANT.DOCTE

  • Bibliographisches Handbuch zur Sprachinhaltsforschung. Teil II. Systematischer Teil. B. Ordnung nach Sinnbezirken (mit einem alphabetischen Begriffsschluessel): Der Mensch und seine Welt im Spiegel der Sprachforschung ( FRANKE 1989) p. 58A

  • Bibliographisches Handbuch zur Sprachinhaltsforschung. Teil II. Systematischer Teil. B. Ordnung nach Sinnbezirken (mit einem alphabetischen Begriffsschluessel): Der Mensch und seine Welt im Spiegel der Sprachforschung ( FRANKE 1989) p. 59A

  • Bibliographisches Handbuch zur Sprachinhaltsforschung. Teil II. Systematischer Teil. B. Ordnung nach Sinnbezirken (mit einem alphabetischen Begriffsschluessel): Der Mensch und seine Welt im Spiegel der Sprachforschung ( FRANKE 1989) p. 59B

    -ABEL

    ZUGAENGLICHKEIT

    • Words (31 items)

    能  néng OC: nɯɯŋ MC: nəŋ 439 Attributions

    The commonest word is néng 能 "have an inherent capacity for, have the personal ability to". CURRENT, ENDOGENIC, GRADED, INHERENT, LASTING

      Word relations
    • Result: 學/LEARN Xué 學 is conative and means "try to learn". See STUDY.
    • Result: 學/STUDY The dominant word is xué 學 (ant. jiào 教 "train teach")which refers primarily to studying or training under another person, and secondarily to the learning by heart texts. Very often, the word retains a tinge of immitation.
    • Ant: 恆 / 恆恒/ORDINARY
    • Object: 量/MEASURE
    • Contrast: 得/ABLE
    • Contrast: 才 / 材/TALENT The standard word for an unusual promising ability to perform important future tasks of any kind is cái 才／材, and the talents referred to by this word do not need to be of a "higher" kind.
    • Assoc: 才 / 材/TALENT The standard word for an unusual promising ability to perform important future tasks of any kind is cái 才／材, and the talents referred to by this word do not need to be of a "higher" kind.
    • Assoc: 技/ABLE Jì 技 "expertise, know-how" refers to the talents for crafts and the like, and the word is not normally used as a verb. See SKILL. GRADED, CURRENT, DIFFICULT, ACQUIRED, LASTING, PSYCHOLOGICAL, PRACTICAL.
    • Assoc: 技/ABLE Jì 技 "expertise, know-how" refers to the talents for crafts and the like, and the word is not normally used as a verb. See SKILL. GRADED, CURRENT, DIFFICULT, ACQUIRED, LASTING, PSYCHOLOGICAL, PRACTICAL.
    • Assoc: 智 / 知/WISE The current general word for wisdom is zhì 智 (ant. yú 愚 "devoid of wisdom") and this may refer to any superior intellectual ability beyond the realm of memorisation or mundane knowledge, the quality which enables one to móu 謀 give good advice..
    • Synon: 得/ABLE

      Syntactic words
    • nab(.post-N)his own abilitiesDS
    • nabdispositioncapability; physical capability, concrete technical capability; potential, capacity 人各有能
    • v[adN]N=humanmen who have qualifications/abilitiesCH
    • vadNcapable, possessed of political clout, skilfull 能人
    • vt(+V[0])be able to perform a contexually determinate action or achieve a contextually determinate quality
    • vt(oN)be capable of the contextually determinate thing
    • vt+V[0]be physically able to; have the capacity to VERB properly, be constitutionally able to VERB; be physically capable of, be actually able to; would ever be able to
    • vt+V[0]passivebe competently mastered
    • vt+V[0]subj=nonhuman(of non-human/inanimate subjects) be able to V
    • vt+V[0]temporaryfeel able to; be (temporarily) able to
    • vt[+V[0]]be capable and competent; be able to act, be in a position to act
    • vtoNabshow a capacity for; be capable of Nab-ing
    • vtoNputativeconsider as capable
    可  kě OC: khlaalʔ MC: khɑ 85 Attributions

    Kě 可 is occasionally used for kěyǐ 可以 and typically comes before passivised verbs: "be V-able".

      Word relations
    • Oppos: 難/DIFFICULT The clearly dominant word for anything that is hard to achieve or hard to sustain is nán 難 (ant. yì 易 "easy").

      Syntactic words
    • vt(+V[0])can; is able to (short for 可以 with omitted verbal object)
    • vt(+V[0]{PASS})transitive verb with omitted passive verbal object: may properly be VERBed; be (VERB)ableDS
    • vt+V[0]have the objective possibility of V-ing
    • vt+V[0]{PASS}transitive verb which takes passivised verbs as object: may probably be VERBed; be VERBable
    • vt[0]+V[0]absoluteit is possible to V, one can V; it is possible that there be V-ing
    可以  kě yǐ OC: khlaalʔ k-lɯʔ MC: khɑ jɨ 47 Attributions

    Kě yǐ 可以 "be in an objective position to, have the possibility to". ABSOLUTE, INCIDENTAL, EXOGENIC, TEMPORARY, PHYSICAL.

      Syntactic words
    • VPt+V[0]be (thus 以之) in an objective position to, have the (circumstantially determined) possibility to
    得  dé OC: tɯɯɡ MC: tək 43 Attributions

      Word relations
    • Contrast: 能/ABLE The commonest word is néng 能 "have an inherent capacity for, have the personal ability to". CURRENT, ENDOGENIC, GRADED, INHERENT, LASTING
    • Synon: 能/ABLE The commonest word is néng 能 "have an inherent capacity for, have the personal ability to". CURRENT, ENDOGENIC, GRADED, INHERENT, LASTING

      Syntactic words
    • vt(+V[0])manage to do the contextually determinate thing V
    • vt+V[0]manage to V; be able to V
    • vt+V[0]{PASS}be amenable to being V-ed (Find some of the many early examples!)
    • vtpostadVbe able to V (verbal complement expressing capability)
    足以  zú yǐ OC: tsoɡ k-lɯʔ MC: tsi̯ok jɨ 41 Attributions

    Zú yǐ 足以 emphasises sufficiency of conditions necessary to get something done. GRADED, INHERENT, PHYSICAL

      Syntactic words
    • VPt+V[0]be capable of V-ing (NOT: be sufficient to V with); be in a position to
    • VPt+V[0]{PASS}be worth V-ing
    知  zhī OC: te MC: ʈiɛ 33 Attributions

    Zhī 知 refers to the intellectual ability to do something, especially to do something that is not intellectually trivial.

      Syntactic words
    • vt+V[0]be intellectually capable to V; understand how to, know how to V; have the good sense to; know the importance of Ving
    • vtoNbe intellectually capable of Nab
    得而  dé ér OC: tɯɯɡ njɯ MC: tək ȵɨ 21 Attributions

    may be V-ed, one may V them

      Syntactic words
    • VPt+V[0]manage to; can come to
    • VPt+V[0]{PASS}be capable of being V-ed
    技  jì OC: ɡreʔ MC: giɛ 20 Attributions

    Jì 技 "expertise, know-how" refers to the talents for crafts and the like, and the word is not normally used as a verb. See SKILL. GRADED, CURRENT, DIFFICULT, ACQUIRED, LASTING, PSYCHOLOGICAL, PRACTICAL.

      Word relations
    • Assoc: 能/ABLE The commonest word is néng 能 "have an inherent capacity for, have the personal ability to". CURRENT, ENDOGENIC, GRADED, INHERENT, LASTING
    • Assoc: 能/ABLE The commonest word is néng 能 "have an inherent capacity for, have the personal ability to". CURRENT, ENDOGENIC, GRADED, INHERENT, LASTING

      Syntactic words
    • nab.post-V{NUM}dispositionexpertise, professional skill
    • vibe skillful (especially with one's hands)
    解  jiě OC: kreeʔ MC: kɣɛ 13 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • vt(+V[0])be able to V
    • vt+V[0]be able to; know how to
    耐  nài OC: nɯɯs MC: nəi 10 Attributions

    Nài 耐 refers to a physical ability to do something and appears to be a loan for 能.

      Syntactic words
    • vt+V[0]be able to (loan for 能)
    堪  kān OC: khluum MC: khəm 9 Attributions

    Kān 堪 typically refers to the ability to do something others might not be willing or psychologically able to do. ABSOLUTE, CURRENT, DIFFICULT, EMOTIONAL, ENDOGENIC, INHERENT, INNATE, LASTING, PSYCHOLOGICAL.

      Syntactic words
    • vt(+V[0])be able to undertake the contextually determinate V-ing
    • vtoNbe able to undertake; be able to play the role of; be up to (a task, an honour); be up to (an opponent)
    克  kè OC: khɯɯɡ MC: khək 8 Attributions

    Kè 克 typically comes to emphasise the ability to do something difficult in post-archaic times, but the word was equivalent to néng 能 in early texts. ABSOLUTE, ARCHAIC, INCIDENTAL, TEMPORARY, PHYSICAL.

      Syntactic words
    • vibe capable and efficient
    • vt+V[0]archaic: be capable of V-ing; be able to overcome the task of V-ing, have the stamina and power to; manage the difficult task of V-ing
    技能  jì néng OC: ɡreʔ nɯɯŋ MC: giɛ nəŋ 6 Attributions

    Jì néng 技能 refers to a lasting acquired skill.

      Syntactic words
    • NPab{N1=N2}dispositionskills and abilities of all kinds; one's skills; skill in general
    • VP[adN]those who have skills
    有以  yǒu yǐ MC: hjuwX yiX OC: ɢʷɯʔ k-lɯʔ 5 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • VPt+V(0)have what it takes to; be able thereby toCH
    任  rèn MC: nyimH OC: njɯms 5 Attributions

    Rén 任 emphasises a general qualification to achieve something worth achieving and not obviously easy to achieve. ABSOLUTE, CURRENT, DIFFICULT, ENDOGENIC, ACQUIRED, TEMPORARY, PSYCHOLOGICAL.

      Syntactic words
    • nabdispositioncapability, power; capabilities, abilities; ability to perform duties
    • vt(oN)be able to perform the contextually determinate taskDS
    • vtoNbe able to undertake, qualify for (a task);; be qualified for (fame);
    • vtoNpassivebe undertaken, be taken upon oneself 難任
    伎  jì OC: ɡreʔ MC: giɛ
    技  jì OC: ɡreʔ MC: giɛ 5 Attributions

      Word relations

      Syntactic words
    • nabdisposition=技 entertaining trick, attractive skill [also general: skill in any field
    可得  kě dé OC: khlaalʔ tɯɯɡ MC: khɑ tək 4 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • VPt(+V[0])be able to achieve the contextually determinate VingDS
    • VPt+V[0]be able to V
    知能  zhī néng MC: trje noj  OC: te nɯɯŋ 3 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • NPabdisposition= zhi4néng 智能: intellect and capabilitiesLZ
    足  zú OC: tsoɡ MC: tsi̯ok 3 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • vt+V[0]qualified to V
    • vt+V[0]negativebe able to V, have enough ability to carry out the bad V-ingLZ
    賢能  xián néng MC: hen noj OC: ɡiin nɯɯŋ 2 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • VP[adN]fully competent personsLZ
    可與  kě yǔ MC: khaX yoX OC: khlaalʔ k-laʔ 2 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • VPt V[0]= kěyi3 可以: be able to VLZ
    力  lì OC: ɡ-rɯɡ MC: lɨk 2 Attributions

    Lì 力 "strength" is sometimes used to refer to an ability to do someting which in some sense requires strength.

      Word relations
    • Contrast: 功/ACHIEVE Gōng 功 refers to the achievement of something regarded as important to others. See MERIT. [ALTRUISTIC], [IMPORTANT]; [NOUN]

      Syntactic words
    • nabdispositionextent of one's ability, physical capacity
    性  xìng MC: sjengH OC: seŋs 2 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • nabfeaturenatural (inborn) capacityCH
    • nab{PRED}subsumptionbelong to human congenital natureCH
    會  huì OC: ɡloobs MC: ɦɑi 2 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • vt+V[0]be able to V
    • vtoNhave a skill for
    載  zài MC: tsojH OC: sklɯɯs 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • vtoNbe able to undertake, qualify for NLZ
    云  yún MC: hjun OC: ɢun 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • vtoV[0]arcane poetic: be able toCH
    敢  gǎn OC: klaamʔ MC: kɑm 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • vt+V(0)be in a state to, can bear to
    • vt+V(0)rhetorical question
    曉  xiǎo OC: qheewʔ MC: heu 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • vt+V[0]be intellectually capable of V-ing
    能力  néng lì OC: nɯɯŋ ɡ-rɯɡ MC: nəŋ lɨk 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • NPabdispositionability and strength
    材能  cái néng OC: sɡɯɯ nɯɯŋ MC: dzəi nəŋ 0 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • NPabpsychabilities
    能了  néng liǎo OC: nɯɯŋ reewʔ MC: nəŋ leu 0 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • VPtoNperfectiveget to be able