Usage patterns 〈 人ひと〉 〉 に 〈 事こと〉 〉 の 能力うりょく がある someone has the ability to do something
He has the ability to attract people.
能のう 力りょく を 発はっ 揮き する to demonstrate/show one's ability
She showed her true abilities within the team.
能のう 力りょく を 伸の ばす to develop one's ability
This school places importance on developing students' abilities.
能のう 力りょく を 身み につける to acquire an ability/skill
I studied abroad and acquired English communication skills.
〈 人ひと〉 〉 の 能力うりょく を 超こ える to be beyond someone's ability
That job is beyond my ability.
能のう 力りょく を 評ひょう 価か する to evaluate/assess someone's ability
A boss should properly evaluate their subordinates' abilities.
Related words· 13 才能 emphasizes innate talent or giftedness, while 能力 is the broader term covering both natural and learned ability.
実力 stresses actual, demonstrated ability or real strength, whereas 能力 can refer to potential capacity as well.
力 is a plain, everyday word for power or strength in general, while 能力 is the more formal, specific term for a particular capability.
スキル refers to a specific, trainable skill (often practical or job-related), while 能力 is the broader concept of ability in general.
Show 9 more Show fewer 能力 refers to the innate or acquired ability of a person or living thing, while 性能 describes the measurable performance of a machine or device.
能力 is the everyday modern word for someone's ability or capacity, while 能 alone is more literary and mainly survives in fixed phrases.
能力 is the general, everyday word for ability or capacity, while 力量 suggests a more thoroughly evaluated or comprehensive competence.
能力 is the general, neutral word for ability or capacity, while 手腕 specifically praises practical skill in managing tasks or situations.
能力 is a general word for ability or capacity in any context, while 職能 specifically means the ability needed for a particular occupation.
能力 refers to general ability or capacity, which can be innate, whereas 技能 specifically denotes a learned, technical skill.
能力 refers to ability a person already has and can use now, while ポテンシャル points to untapped capacity that has not yet been realized.
能力 is a general term for ability in any field, while 技術力 refers specifically to ability in technical or technological fields.
能力 is a general term for ability or capacity that can be innate, while 腕前 specifically describes acquired, hands-on skill.
Word family· 48 incompetence; inability; incapacity
full capacity; all one's ability
ability score; attribute value
merit pay; ability-based pay
psychic ability; ESP; psi · psychokinesis; PK
Show 6 more Show fewer psychic power; spiritual ability
precognition; ability to foresee the future
throughput; processing power
capacity; accommodation
fertility; ability to conceive
capacity to consent
See all 48 in Explore →
Etymology Compound of 能 (ability, function) and 力 (power, strength). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the combination has been used to mean 'ability' or 'capability' since at least the Meiji period.
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