能のう

noun

ability; talent; function

As a standalone noun, often appears in set phrases such as 能がある and 能がない for ability or usefulness. For modern technical 'function,' 機能 is usually the more explicit word.

• 彼かれには人ひとをまとめる能のうがある。

  He has a talent for bringing people together.

• 口くちばかりで、いざとなると何なんの能のうもない。

  He is all talk and is of no use when it really matters.

noun

Noh theatre; Noh drama

Refers to 能, the traditional Japanese masked musical theatre. In English it is often written 'Noh.'

• 京きょう都とで初はじめて能のうを見みた。

  I saw Noh for the first time in Kyoto.

• 能のうの舞ぶ台たいでは、動うごきの一ひとつ一ひとつに意い味みがある。

  On the Noh stage, each movement has meaning.