Ability and capability with 能
能 means ability or capability, and by extension possibility and talent.
Etymology
This kanji is a pictogram originally depicting a bear. The character shows two paws (represented by elements resembling 匕) and a face with an open mouth (stylized as 月). You’ll also find 能 as the central part of 熊, the kanji for bear.
Mnemonics
Bears exemplify ability and capability: they have remarkable physical prowess, strength, and versatility. They are able to climb, swim, run, and manipulate objects with dexterity. The bear reflects the potential to do something.
Capability
能力 (Ability)
能力 means ability or capacity. It can be innate or developed through learning and experience.
It combines 能 (ability) with 力 (power) to show capability.
Conan finds himself in the clutches of dangerous pair, only to discover it’s his parents in disguise.
- コナン:
- 「ハハ… それでオレが薬で小さくされた事情を阿笠博士に聞いて、こんな悪巧みを仕組んだってわけか…」
- “So you heard from Dr. Agasa about how I was shrunk by a drug and cooked up this evil scheme, huh...”
- 父さん:
- 「悪巧みじゃないさ！ おまえの探偵としての能力を試してんだよ…」
- “It's not an evil scheme! I'm just testing your abilities as a detective...”
才能 (Talent)
才能 means talent or aptitude in a particular field. It often suggests a natural gift, though training can also develop it.
It combines 才 (talent) with 能 (ability) to show natural talent.
During a free day from training, Touwata and Mizubashou approach Tsubaki to request a favor. She would like Tsubaki to challenge Benisumomo to a one-on-one fight.
- トウワタ:
- 「そのですね… ベニセンパイは才能があるのにそれにかまけて、ぜんっぜん努力しないんです。」
- “Well, you see... Beni-senpai has talent, but she takes it for granted and doesn't put in any effort at all.”
- 「いっつも一人で昼寝するってどっか行って。」
- “She always go off somewhere to take a nap alone.”
- “Well, you see... Beni-senpai has talent, but she takes it for granted and doesn't put in any effort at all.”
有能 (Competent)
有能 means competent, capable, or talented.
It combines 有 (have) with 能 (ability) to show possessing ability.
Detective Mouri is invited as a special guest to the birthday party for Reika, daughter of the Yotsui Group’s chairman. At the event, Reika announces her intent to marry.
- 霊化:
- 「そう思って今日のパーティーにも、有能そうな男性を数人、お招きしてますわ…」
- “With that in mind, I've invited several promising gentlemen to today's party...”
無能 (Incompetent)
無能 means incompetent or incapable. It can describe a person or the lack of ability itself.
It combines 無 (nothing) with 能 (ability) to show lack of ability.
Police detective Yokomizo isn’t about to let Sasai, his prime murder suspect, leave. Sasai reminds the officer that he has photographic proof that he wasn’t near the victim at the time of the murder. He calls for Detective Mouri to back him up.
- 笹井:
- 「名探偵のあなたからもいってやってくださいよ。 この刑事がいかに無能かという事を…」
- “You, the great detective, should tell him yourself. Just how incompetent this police detective is...”
Exceptional Powers
超能力 (Psychic power)
超能力 means a psychic or supernatural power beyond ordinary human ability.
It combines 超 (exceed), 能 (ability), and 力 (power) to show extraordinary power.
Nishikata and Takagi compete to see who can score higher on the long jump in physical education class. When Nishika lands his jump, he’s a bit shaky. He watches as the spectating Takagi sweeps her arms as if to knock him over, and he falls back, lowering his score. Takagi gives her condolences afterward.
- 西片:
- 「高木さんて…もしかして、超能力使えるの？」
- “Takagi... could it be... you have psychic powers?”
Functional Capacity
機能 (Function)
機能 means the function or role of an object, system, or one of its parts.
It combines 機 (machine) with 能 (ability) to show mechanical ability.
A murder suspect explains how when he called the victim, the phone kept ringing until the answering machine picked up.
- 目暮:
- 「奥さん！ここの留守番電話の機能は？」
- “Ma'am! How does this answering machine function?”
- 奥さん:
- 「は、はい… 十数回コールしても出ない時は、自動的に留守番電話に切り替わるようになってます…」
- “Well... When there's no answer after ten rings, it automatically switches to the answering machine...”
性能 (Performance)
性能 means the performance or capability of a machine or product.
It combines 性 (nature) with 能 (ability) to show inherent capability or performance characteristics.
Professor Agasa gives Conan a tracking device. He eagerly looks for an opportunity to see how it works.
- コナン:
- 「そうだ！蘭に付けてこれの性能試してみっか！！」
- “I know! I'll stick it on Ran and see how it performs!!”
Natural Disposition
本能 (Instinct)
本能 means instinct, an inborn impulse that drives behavior without conscious thought or learning.
It combines 本 (origin) with 能 (ability) to show innate capability.
Yui and her friends are in their secret base when a pigeon flies in and lands on the table between them. The group’s cat, Colonel Monochrome, leaps after it, but the pigeon escapes.
- 結衣:
- 「ビックリしたー」
- “That surprised me!”
- 琴葉:
- 「大佐が本能をむき出しにしたな」
- “The Colonel laid bare his instincts.”
Possibility
可能 (Possible)
可能 means possible, feasible, or permitted.
It combines 可 (can) with 能 (ability) to show possibility.
Following a murder made to look like an accidental death, Conan reviews the whereabouts of the four suspects at the time.
- コナン:
- 「犯行可能時にあの四人の中でアリバイが成立しているのは…」
- “Among those four, the one with an established alibi during the time the crime could have been committed is...”
- 「あの人だた一人…」
- “...that person alone...”
- “Among those four, the one with an established alibi during the time the crime could have been committed is...”
不可能 (Impossible)
不可能 means impossible or unable to be done.
It combines 不 (not) with 可能 (possible) to show the absence of possibility.
Sonoko is invited to a band’s after party. During the get-together, the band’s singer Tatsuya eats a rice ball only to collapse and die. The police are called in, and Inspector Megure discovers the victim was poisoned. He accuses the man who prepared the food, but Conan bites into a rice ball to show it’s safe. The victim’s manager, Mari, agrees.
- 麻理:
- 「無差別殺人ならともかく、たまたま達也が食べたオニギリだけに、あらかじめ毒を仕込むのは不可能じゃありません？」
- “If it were indiscriminate murder, that's one thing but since it was just the rice ball Tatsuya happened to eat, wouldn't it be impossible to poison it beforehand?”
- 目暮:
- 「た、確かにそうだが…」
- “Th-that's true.”