能耐

• 拼音: néng nai
• 汉字拆解: 能 = 厶 + 月 + 匕 (private + flesh + spoon — original pictograph of a bear; able); 耐 = 而 + 寸 (whiskers + inch — to endure)

含义

Ability; capability; skill. Refers to a person's competence or talent to accomplish tasks, often used in colloquial speech.

More colloquial than 能力, often used in rhetorical or challenging contexts: 有能耐 (to have the ability), 没能耐 (to lack ability), 真有能耐 (really capable — can be sarcastic). Can carry either admiration or ironic undertones depending on context.

例句

1. 他凭着一身能耐，硬是在竞争激烈的行业中闯出了一片天地。
2. 有能耐你自己来试试，别光站在旁边说风凉话。
3. 这点小事都处理不好，还有什么能耐去承担更大的责任呢？

用法指南

语境: colloquial, challenge, evaluation, sarcasm

语气: casual

正确说法

• 他在技术领域确实有两把刷子，真有能耐解决各种棘手的难题。(He really does have some skills in the technical field; he truly has the ability to solve all kinds of thorny problems.)
• 你要是有能耐，就亲自上场证明给大家看，而不是在这里纸上谈兵。(If you have the ability, go out there and prove it to everyone yourself, instead of just talking on paper here.)

错误说法

• 他的能耐很高 — sounds awkward; use 他很有能耐 or 他能耐大 instead

起源与历史

能 (able/can) + 耐 (endure/bear)

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal