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技能 (jì néng) — skill

Definition

技能 is a practical skill you've learned or trained, usually in a job, sport, or craft. It's narrower and more concrete than 能力 (general ability), and more applied than 技术 (which also means technology).

noun
skill
Measure word · 项

Examples

  • 技能。
    Xué xí xīn jì néng xū yào shí jiān.
    Learning new skills takes time.
  • 技能。
    Tā de diàn nǎo jì néng hěn hǎo.
    His computer skills are very good.
  • 技能。
    Gōng sī xū yào yí xiàng tè shū jì néng.
    The company needs a special skill.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

技jìskill
能néngability

The skill 技 and ability 能 together mean practical competence.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
支
支zhī技jì
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

技 pairs 扌 (hand) with 支, which gives the sound. The hand part fits the idea of skill or ability done with the hands.

Open 技 →

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 5HSK 2.0 Level 6Abstract Concepts

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