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体能 (tǐ néng) — physical stamina; physical capability

Definition

体能 refers specifically to physical stamina and fitness for sports or demanding tasks, narrower than the general 能力 ('ability'). It is more about endurance than raw 体力 ('physical strength').

noun
physical staminaphysical capability
Easily confused

Examples

  • 体能。
    Jiā qiáng tǐ néng xùn liàn duì jiàn kāng hěn yǒu bāng zhù.
    Strengthening stamina training is very helpful for health.
  • 体能。
    Xiāo fáng duì yuán xū yào jí gāo de tǐ néng.
    Firefighters need extremely high physical capability.
  • 体能，？
    Nǐ de tǐ néng zhēn bú cuò, píng shí jīng cháng yùn dòng ba?
    Your physical fitness is really good; you must exercise often, right?

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

体tǐbody
能néngability

体 refers to the body, 能 to ability; together they mean physical stamina or capability.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 體; 体 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
骨骨gǔbone
Sound part声符shēngfú
豊
豊lǐ體tǐ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 體 pairs 骨 (bone) with 豊 as a sound part; this note is about 體, not about the parts of 体.

Open 体 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

能 is an old picture of a bear, showing two paws and a face with an open mouth.

Open 能 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Fitness & Exercise

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