潜能 (qián néng) — potential; latent capability | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

潜能 (qián néng) is 'potential' — the hidden, unrealized capability a person has, similar to 潜力 but more often used for personal development. It focuses on what someone COULD become, not an existing ability like 能力.

noun

potentiallatent capability

Examples

潜能。
Měi gè hái zi dōu yōng yǒu wú xiàn de qián néng.
Every child possesses unlimited potential.
，潜能。
Zhǐ yào nǔ lì, nǐ de qián néng jiù huì zhǎn xiàn chū lái.
As long as you work hard, your potential will show itself.
潜能。
Zhè ge xùn liàn néng bāng zhù yuán gōng wā jué qián néng.
This training can help employees tap into their potential.

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.

能néngability

潜 and 能 combine as hidden ability, giving the idea of latent potential.

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 潛; 潜 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

朁

朁cǎn潛qián

Same sound today

The form 潛 has 水 as a meaning part and 朁 as a sound part; this note is about 潛, not the simplified 潜.

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.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Abstract Concepts

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