Definition
能耐 (néng nai) is a colloquial word for 'ability' or 'capable', often used in everyday speech. It is less formal than 能力 (néng lì, the standard term) and more general than 本领 (běn lǐng, which emphasizes practical skills). As an adjective, it means 'capable, skilled'.
noun
abilitycapability
adjective
capableskilled
Examples
- 能耐，。Tā hěn yǒu néng nai, yídìng néng wánchéng zhège rènwu.He has great ability; he can definitely complete this task.
- ，。Bié kàn tā niánqīng, tā kě néng nai le.Don't judge by his youth — he's really capable.
- 能耐。Tā de néng nai ràng wǒ fēicháng pèifu.His ability makes me very impressed.
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