‘能力’ (néng lì) literally combines ‘能’ (néng), meaning ‘to be able to’ or ‘capable’, and ‘力’ (lì), meaning ‘strength’ or ‘power’. Together, they form a noun meaning ‘ability’ — the mental or physical capacity to do something effectively. Unlike English ‘ability’, which often pairs with infinitives (e.g., ‘able to speak’), ‘能力’ functions as a standalone abstract noun and typically appears after measure words like ‘一种’ (yī zhǒng, ‘a kind of’) or modifiers like ‘很强的’ (hěn qiáng de, ‘very strong’).

This word is commonly used in academic, professional, and personal development contexts — for example, when discussing language ability, problem-solving ability, or leadership ability. It emphasizes innate or acquired competence rather than temporary skill or permission. While ‘能力’ can refer to general human capability, it’s rarely used for animals or machines unless anthropomorphizing or in technical descriptions.