Recognize 能 in 能力, 可能 and 機能; learn each complete word in context.

The idea

能力 (のうりょく) means ability; capacity; 可能 (かのう) means possible; feasible; 機能 (きのう) means function; feature. 能 has 10 strokes; follow the linked KanjiVG diagram to write them in order. Learn each reading with its word. Sino-Japanese reading: ノウ（能力）.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingMeaning
能力のうりょくability; capacity
可能かのうpossible; feasible
機能きのうfunction; feature

Examples

  • 言語げんご能力のうりょくは練習れんしゅうで伸のびます。Language ability improves with practice.
  • 彼女かのじょには問題もんだいを解決かいけつする能力のうりょくがあります。She has the ability to solve problems.
  • 予約よやくの変更へんこうは可能かのうです。Changing the reservation is possible.
  • 明日あしたなら参加さんかが可能かのうです。I can attend if it is tomorrow.
  • この機能きのうは設定せっていで使つかえます。You can use this function through the settings.
  • アプリの便利べんりな機能きのうを紹介しょうかいします。I will introduce a useful feature of the app.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

能力 is a person’s or thing’s ability, 可能 means that something is possible, and 機能 is a function or feature. 可能 does not promise that the action will actually happen. Compare 能 and 熊; their components differ: 能＋灬＝熊.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 能力 in hiragana.

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    のうりょく

    能力 is read のうりょく and means ability; capacity.

  2. Write the reading of 可能 in hiragana.

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    かのう

    可能 is read かのう and means possible; feasible.

  3. Fill in the missing kanji: 機＿（きのう）.

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    能

    能 completes 機能, read きのう; the word means function; feature.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 能 from memory, then read 能力 and 可能 aloud and make a sentence with one of them.