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能量 (néng liàng) — (physics) energy; (figurative) energy, vitality; capabilities

Definition

能量 covers both the physics sense of 'energy' and the figurative 'vitality, capability' of a person. For the people-sense, 活力 is liveliness and 生机 is life force; 能量 leans toward 'capabilities / personal power'.

noun
(physics) energy(figurative) energyvitalitycapabilities

Examples

  • 能量。
    Tài yáng gěi wǒ men dài lái le dà liàng de néng liàng hé wēn nuǎn.
    The sun brings us a lot of energy and warmth.
  • ，能量。
    Tā chī le zhè kuài qiǎo kè lì, gǎn jué dào néng liàng zēng jiā le.
    After eating this piece of chocolate, he felt his energy increase.
  • 能量。
    Zhè ge gōng sī fēi cháng zhù zhòng jié yuē néng liàng.
    This company pays great attention to conserving energy.

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néngenergy
量liángquantity

Energy 能 as a measurable quantity 量 gives the sense of stored capacity.

Characters in this word

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 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 日日rìsun
  • 東東dōngbag; east

量 has 日 (sun) over 東 (bag; east). Some explanations suggest measuring under the sun or the sun rising in the east, but the exact origin is unclear.

Open 量 →
Appears in
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