How to write 能 (néng) — stroke order
能 (néng) means “can, to be able to.” It is written with 10 strokes, and its radical is 肉 (ròu, “meat”). The strokes go 撇折, 点, 竖, 横折钩, 横, 横, 撇, 竖弯钩, 撇, 竖弯钩. Use it right away in a real line: 我不能吃辣 (Wǒ bù néng chī là), “I can't eat spicy food.”
- Strokes
- 10
- Radical
- 肉 (ròu, “meat”) · Kangxi 130
- Meaning
- can, to be able to
- Traditional
- 能 (same)
Watch it, then trace it
Tap Watch strokes for the order. Tap Trace it and draw each stroke with your finger or mouse.
néng
Stroke order, step by step
- 1 撇折
- 2 点
- 3 竖
- 4 横折钩
- 5 横
- 6 横
- 7 撇
- 8 竖弯钩
- 9 撇
- 10 竖弯钩
- Stroke 1 of 10 · 撇折 piězhé (left-falling then rising): starts at the top left, goes down, then to the right.
- Stroke 2 of 10 · 点 diǎn (dot): a short stroke at the top, down to the right.
- Stroke 3 of 10 · 竖 shù (vertical): starts at the middle left, goes down.
- Stroke 4 of 10 · 横折钩 héngzhégōu (horizontal, down, hook): starts at the middle left, goes to the right, then down and ends in a small hook left.
- Stroke 5 of 10 · 横 héng (horizontal): a short stroke at the middle left, to the right.
- Stroke 6 of 10 · 横 héng (horizontal): a short stroke at the bottom left, to the right.
- Stroke 7 of 10 · 撇 piě (left-falling): starts at the top right, goes down to the left.
- Stroke 8 of 10 · 竖弯钩 shùwāngōu (vertical, bend, hook): starts at the top, goes down, then to the right, then up.
- Stroke 9 of 10 · 撇 piě (left-falling): starts at the middle right, goes down to the left.
- Stroke 10 of 10 · 竖弯钩 shùwāngōu (vertical, bend, hook): starts at the centre, goes down, then to the right, then up.
Writing tip
Write the left half top to bottom, then the right half: two 匕 shapes, upper one first.
Lines on Hanyuwu with 能
- 我不能吃辣 Wǒ bù néng chī là — I can't eat spicy food.Here 能 is said néng.
Questions
How many strokes does 能 have?
能 has 10 strokes. Write the left half top to bottom, then the right half: two 匕 shapes, upper one first.
What is the radical of 能?
The radical of 能 is 肉 (ròu, “meat”), Kangxi radical 130. Dictionaries do not all file it under the same radical; this is the Kangxi one.
How do you pronounce 能?
Néng, second tone. In 我不能吃辣 it keeps that tone.
Is 能 different in traditional Chinese?
No. 能 is written the same way in traditional Chinese.
Printable practice sheet for 能
Next characters: 我 · 不 · 辣 · 吃
Stroke animation: Hanzi Writer (MIT). Stroke shapes: Make Me a Hanzi via hanzi-writer-data, derived from Arphic PL fonts, Arphic Public License. Stroke counts: Unihan 17.0.0. Credits and licences