Translation and Meaning of: 能力 - nouryoku

If you are studying Japanese or are curious about the language, you may have come across the word 能力[のうりょく]. It appears in various contexts, from professional evaluations to discussions about personal skills. In this article, we will explore its meaning, origin, and how it is used in everyday Japanese. Additionally, we will look at tips for memorizing it and curiosities that make this word even more interesting.

In the Suki Nihongo dictionary, 能力 is defined as "ability" or "skill," but its usage goes beyond the literal meaning. It carries important nuances in Japanese culture, especially in the workplace and education. Understanding these subtleties can make a difference in your language learning.

Meaning and usage of 能力[のうりょく]

The word 能力 refers to the ability to perform something, whether it's a physical, intellectual, or even emotional task. Unlike terms like 才能[さいのう] (innate talent), it is more related to skills developed through effort. Therefore, it is common to see it in contexts of professional or academic evaluation in Japan.

An interesting aspect is that 能力 is not limited to technical skills. It can describe social competencies, such as the ability to work in a team (チームワーク能力) or to communicate efficiently (コミュニケーション能力). This breadth makes the word extremely versatile in the Japanese vocabulary.

Origin and composition of kanjis

Analyzing the kanjis that form 能力, we have 能 (ability, energy) and 力 (force, power). Together, they reinforce the idea of "power to perform." The first kanji, 能, also appears in words such as 可能[かのう] (possible) and 性能[せいのう] (performance), always related to the idea of potential.

It is worth noting that 能力 is a word of Chinese origin (kango), like many others in modern Japanese. It was incorporated into the vocabulary during periods of intense cultural influence from China, remaining relevant to this day. This history helps explain why it sounds more formal than purely Japanese terms (wago) with similar meanings.

Tips for memorizing and using correctly

An effective way to fix 能力 is to associate it with concrete situations. Think of sentences like "I need to improve my 能力 in Japanese" or "he has great 能力 in leadership." This type of contextualization helps internalize vocabulary naturally, going beyond simple translation.

Another valuable tip is to pay attention to how the word appears in animes, dramas, or Japanese news. In corporate environments, for example, 能力評価[のうりょくひょうか] (ability assessment) is a quite common term. Observing these real uses makes all the difference in learning.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 才能 (Sainou) - Ability or natural talent to do something.
• スキル (Sukiru) - Skill acquired or learned through practice.
• 技能 (Ginou) - Technical skill or practical knowledge in a specific area.
• 能耐 (Noutai) - Ability or endurance in performing tasks, often related to effort.
• 能力者 (Nouryokusha) - Person with exceptional skills or remarkable talents.
• 能力値 (Nouryokuchi) - Value or point that measures someone's ability or skill in a certain context.

能力

Romaji: nouryoku
Kana: のうりょく
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n3

Translation / Meaning: ability; faculty

Meaning in English: ability;faculty

Definition: power or means to accomplish something.

Example Sentences - (能力) nouryoku

See below some example sentences:

彼女は自分の能力を現すことができた。

Kanojo wa jibun no nouryoku wo arawasu koto ga dekita

She was able to show her skills.

• 彼女 - she
• は - Topic particle
• 自分 - yourself
• の - Possessive particle
• 能力 - Skill, capacity
• を - direct object particle
• 現す - show, demonstrate
• こと - verb noun
• が - subject particle
• できた - be able to, achieve

特殊な能力を持っている。

Tokushu na nouryoku wo motte iru

I have a special ability.

It has a special ability.

• 特殊な - It means "special" or "unique."
• 能力 - means "skill" or "ability".
• を - particle that marks the direct object of the sentence.
• 持っている - It means "to have" or "to possess". It is the verb of the sentence.

私の能力はまだまだです。

Watashi no nōryoku wa mada mada desu

My skill is still far off.

• 私 - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• の - particle that indicates possession or belonging
• 能力 - noun that means "skill" or "ability"
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "skill"
• まだまだ - expression that means "not enough yet" or "still a long way to go"
• です - the verb "to be" in the polite and formal form