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Lesson 36 of 37

能力 in Context

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A NEW WORD HAS BEEN UNLOCKED 
能力

Usage 1 - "capability, ability": 

Sentence:

他的工作能力很强。

English:

His work-related abilities are very strong.

Top-Down Words:

工作 gōngzuò - to work; one’s work; a work task
强 qiáng - strong


Sentence:

你自己有能力工作吗?

English:

Do you yourself have the ability to work?

Top-Down Words:

工作 gōngzuò - to work; one’s work; a work task


*Sentence:

你觉得长相重要还是能力重要?

English:

What do you think is more important, looks or ability?

Top-Down Words:

觉得 juéde - to feel, to think
重要 zhòngyào - important



Need a Reminder?

The Six Steps to Learning Words

Understanding Chinese Words - Morphemes

3 Questions About Words


Member Comments from 2019-mid-2020

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Christopher Thompson

So, for this sentence...
你觉得长相重要还是能力重要?
...there doesn't seem to be a comparison word. That is, something to indicate that I need to choose which is more important, just which is important. As another example, if I asked...
你觉得这个男人高还是那个人高?
...would the implication, if both men are tall, is that I am asking which one is taller?

Mandarin Blueprint

This construction in itself implies that one is taller than the other, without implying that they are both tall. Same with the first example. It's just asking "which one is more important?". A curious aspect to Chinese from an English speaker's perspective but there it is!

MB Team

Here's the link to where Phil and Luke talked about this comment in the Mandarin Blueprint Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGOkHhpBYxQ&t=1496s

Great Job! Keep Going! 可能 in Context
Comments   3

Alexander Greenwood

I was just wondering if this sentence, 你自己有能力工作吗?, could imply the connotation, are you able to work by yourself? (i.e. individually rather than within a team) or is it solely asking about ones ability to work

REPLY

Mandarin Blueprint

Hey Alexander, here's a video response for you:

https://www.loom.com/share/99d5f18d8a384eaabd32e3ce1e554d67

Mentioned in Video:

你自己有能力工作吗?
你有能力自己工作吗?
你有能力一个人工作吗?

REPLY

MB Team

This is where Luke and Phil talked about your question in the Mandarin Blueprint Podcast:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4c780nFbrAs&t=2875s

REPLY