‘无能’ literally means 'without ability' — 无 (wú) means 'not' or 'without', and 能 (néng) means 'ability' or 'capability'. Together, it functions as an adjective describing someone who lacks the competence, skill, or power to perform a task or fulfill a responsibility. It carries a strong negative connotation, often implying helplessness, incompetence, or even moral failure — especially when used in formal or critical contexts like politics, management, or personal accountability.

This word is commonly used in written Chinese and formal speech, less so in casual conversation where softer terms like 不行 (bù xíng) or 不太会 (bù tài huì) are preferred. It appears frequently in news reports, opinion essays, and historical narratives criticizing ineffective leadership or systemic failure. While grammatically it can modify nouns (e.g., 无能的领导), it’s most often used predicatively after 是 or in sentences expressing judgment or evaluation.