能う
あ
た
う
能う · godan verb (-u)
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 能う | 能わない |
| Polite | 能います | 能いません |
| Past polite | 能いました | 能いませんでした |
| Past | 能った | 能わなかった |
| Te-form | 能って | 能わないで |
| Desire | 能いたい | 能いたくない |
| Potential | 能える | 能えない |
| Passive | 能われる | 能われない |
| Causative | 能わせる | 能わせない |
| Causative passive | 能わせられるalso 能わされる | 能わせられないalso 能わされない |
| Volitional | 能おう | |
| Polite volitional | 能いましょう | |
| Imperative | 能え | 能うな |
| Conditional | 能えば | 能わなければ |
| Tara conditional | 能ったら | 能わなかったら |
Meanings
1
godan verb (-u), intransitive verb
be able to; be capable of
Archaic/literary verb meaning 'can do'. In modern Japanese, it survives almost exclusively in the set phrase 能う限り (as much as possible) and the negative form 能わず (cannot). The plain form is pronounced あとう (atō).
See also: 能わず (あたわず) · 能う限り
I did my utmost; I did everything I possibly could.
Don't force him to do what he cannot do.
Expressions
- 能う限りas much as possible; to the best of one's ability