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Personalize your custom “能” project by clicking the button next to your favorite “能” title below...
1. Neng
3. Hanen
4. Huineng
10. Patience Yields Peace of Mind
12. If you cannot bite, do not show your teeth
14. Not Only Can Water Float A Boat, It Can Sink It Also
16. One who walks by the river may end up with wet feet
17. We are not born with knowledge, how does one achieve maturity?
18. Black or white cat matters not as long as it can catch mice
19. Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark
20. Daodejing / Tao Te Ching - Chapter 9
21. Serenity Prayer
22. Heart Sutra
Surname
This is the Mandarin Chinese surname, Neng.
The meaning of this word in Chinese and Japanese is “can,” “capability,” or “to be able to.”
This can also be a surname in Japanese that romanize as Nozaki, Nouzaki, Nou, or Takumi.
全能 means almighty or omnipotent in Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja.
In some contexts, this can mean all-round or strong in every area (especially in athletics).
超能力 is a word that is used in both Japanese and Chinese to refer to the ability to comprehend supernatural power.
Some may translate this as psychic ability, psychic power, ESP, or PSI.
These two characters mean intelligence or intelligent.
The first character means wisdom, intellect, or knowledge.
The second means ability, talent, skill, capacity, capable, able, and can even mean competent.
Together, 知能 can mean “capacity for wisdom,” “useful knowledge,” or even “mental power.” Obviously, this translates more clearly into English as “intelligence.”
Note: This is not the same word used to mean “military intelligence.” See our other entry for that.
In modern Japan, they tend to use a version of the first character without the bottom radical. If your audience for this artwork is Japanese, please click on the Kanji to the right instead of the button above.
If you cannot fight, don't start one
不能咬人就别龇牙 is a Chinese proverb that literally translates as: [if you] can't bite people, don't bare [your] teeth.
Figuratively, this means: Don't show your anger if you can't do anything about the situation.
Some will also say this means “Don't start a fight that you cannot win.” Others will say it means that you must be willing to back up your words (perhaps with your fists).
Many things have opposite properties. The water you drink can also drown you. Pork may nourish you and keep you alive but under-cook it and it could kill you. Potassium nitrate is often used as a fertilizer to grow the food that sustains us but it's also been used as an explosive to topple buildings and destroy us.
This concept is easily associated with “yin yang” where an element has two opposite properties that are as different as night and day.
This proverb's meaning can be summed up this way: “Anything that can lead you to success may also contain great risks.”
This phrase is known in literary circles by Korean people (scholars or literature). It is therefore also a valid proverb in Korean Hanja, though most Koreans would not be able to make sense of it.
Please note that there is an unwritten rule when the same character appears twice in the same phrase, the calligrapher will alter the appearance so that no two characters are exactly alike in the same piece. This calligraphy has two repeating characters that will be written differently than they appear here.
何も不可能じゃない is a Japanese phrase that means “nothing is impossible.”
This is just one of a few ways to express this idea. This one is probably the most common but other valid versions include these:
何も不可能でない
何事も不可能ではない
Some shorter versions that just mean “not impossible” include these:
不不可能
不可能はない
Another common phrase that roughly means “No such thing as impossible” looks like this: 不可能なことはない
Some others include these...
Impossible things are possessed not by me: 無理なことなんてない
Where there's a will, there's a way: 精神一到何事か成らざらん
If you want any of these other versions for your wall scroll, just contact me and I'll set it up for you.
Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.
常在河邊走哪能不濕鞋 is an old Chinese proverb that is sometimes compared to the English saying “Shit Happens.”
It's a reflection that there are risks in life, and you should not be surprised when things don't go your way.
A secondary translation might be, “When walking by a river, often one cannot avoid wet shoes.”
This figuratively means “Without a teacher, how can we learn/mature?”
人非生而知之者熟能無惑 is a philosophic pondering by Han Yu, a Tang Dynasty essayist, and philosopher (618-907 A.D.). This is a Chinese proverb that can be translated as “Knowledge is not innate to man, how can we overcome doubt?” or, “We are not born with knowledge, how does one achieve maturity?.”
This infers that we need the guidance of a teacher if we wish to learn, mature, and become better.
Ability is more important than looks
不管黑猫白猫能捉着老鼠的就是好猫 literally translates as: It doesn't matter [if a] cat [is] black [or] white, [as long as it] can catch mice, it's a good cat.
This proverb was either composed or made famous by Deng XiaoPing in 1961 when he exclaimed, “I don't care if it's a white cat or a black cat. It's a good cat so long as it catches mice” when his critics pointed out that his ideas were Capitalistic (free market). The response was meant to say, “It does not matter if it's Communist or Capitalist, as long as it works.”
This is a Chinese proverb that can be used to suggest one should disregard looks or a person's race, as long as they can do the job. It can also be used as a metaphor for many other situations.
Deng XiaoPing probably saved China from collapse (as the Soviet Union experienced). He changed China’s economy from pure Communism to a hybrid where the free market (Capitalism) is encouraged. More about Deng XiaoPing
信唸是在黎明前的黑闇中能感到光明的鳥 is a philosophical poem/quote from Indian Poet and Philosopher, Rabindranath Tagore.
Rabindranath Tagore, 1915
This quote is not sourced, and therefore several variations exist in English. Some suggest the original was in the Bengali language.
This, of course, is the Chinese translation that has the meaning of, “Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark.”
More about Rabindranath Tagore
This text is the ninth chapter of the Daodejing / Tao Te Ching.
The text reads:
持而盈之、不如其已。揣而梲之、不可長保。 金玉滿堂、莫之能守。 富貴而驕、自遺其咎。 功遂身退、天之道。
This classical Chinese passage comes from the Mawangdui (馬王堆帛書) text.
This is the serenity prayer, as used by many 12-step programs and support groups.
In Chinese, this says:
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
This is the Heart Sutra in Chinese as translated by Xuanzang.
The Heart Sutra is often cited as the best-known and most popular of all Buddhist scriptures.
Notes: There are too many characters for this to be done by the economy calligrapher. You must choose a Master Calligrapher.
With this many characters, and the fact that one tiny mistake wipes out hours of work, keep in mind that writing the Heart Sutra is usually a full day of work for a calligrapher. This work and personal energy should be cherished and respected. In other words, the calligrapher is not charging enough money for the value that you are getting here.
Also, you will find that as my server processes 260 characters, the customization process is a bit slow for this title.
Below are some entries from our dictionary that may match your 能 search...
Characters If shown, 2nd row is Simp. Chinese |
Pronunciation Romanization |
Simple Dictionary Definition |
能 see styles |
néng neng2 neng nou / no のう |
More info & calligraphy: Neng(1) talent; gift; function; (2) noh (theatre); (surname) Nozaki śak. Able to, can; capability, power. |
全能 see styles |
quán néng quan2 neng2 ch`üan neng chüan neng zennou / zenno ぜんのう |
More info & calligraphy: Almighty / Omnipotent(adj-na,adj-no,n) almighty; omnipotent |
慧能 see styles |
huì néng hui4 neng2 hui neng enou / eno えのう |
More info & calligraphy: Huineng(person) Huineng (638-713) The power of wisdom. Huineng, name of a noted monk, sixth patriarch of the Intuitional or Meditation sect; died 713. |
智能 see styles |
zhì néng zhi4 neng2 chih neng chinou / chino ちのう |
More info & calligraphy: Intelligence / Intellectintelligence; intellect; brains |
能量 see styles |
néng liàng neng2 liang4 neng liang nōryō |
More info & calligraphy: Energy / Capabilityknowing agent |
阿能 see styles |
anou / ano あのう |
More info & calligraphy: Hanen |
超能力 see styles |
chāo néng lì chao1 neng2 li4 ch`ao neng li chao neng li chounouryoku / chonoryoku ちょうのうりょく |
More info & calligraphy: Supernatural Energy(1) extra-sensory perception; ESP; psi; psychic ability; (2) psychokinesis; PK |
霊能力 see styles |
reinouryoku / renoryoku れいのうりょく |
More info & calligraphy: Psychic Power |
応変能力 see styles |
ouhennouryoku / ohennoryoku おうへんのうりょく |
More info & calligraphy: Ability to Adapt |
沒有甚麼不可能 没有什么不可能 see styles |
méi yǒu shén me bù kě néng mei2 you3 shen2 me5 bu4 ke3 neng2 mei yu shen me pu k`o neng mei yu shen me pu ko neng |
More info & calligraphy: Nothing is Impossible |
一能 see styles |
kazuyoshi かずよし |
(male given name) Kazuyoshi |
万能 see styles |
bannou(p); mannou(ok) / banno(p); manno(ok) ばんのう(P); まんのう(ok) |
(adj-no,n) (1) all-purpose; utility; universal; (adj-no,n) (2) all-powerful; almighty; omnipotent; all-round (e.g. athlete); (place-name) Mannou |
上能 see styles |
jiyouno / jiyono じようの |
(surname) Jiyouno |
下能 see styles |
genou / geno げのう |
(place-name) Genou |
不能 see styles |
bù néng bu4 neng2 pu neng funou / funo ふのう |
cannot; must not; should not (noun or adjectival noun) (1) impossible; incapable (of doing); unable (to do); (2) incompetence; inability; (3) (See インポテンツ) impotence; (4) {math} having no solution (of an equation) incapable |
与能 see styles |
yonou / yono よのう |
(place-name) Yonou |
世能 see styles |
senou / seno せのう |
(personal name) Senou |
中能 see styles |
nakayoku なかよく |
(surname) Nakayoku |
丹能 see styles |
tannou / tanno たんのう |
(surname) Tannou |
久能 see styles |
hisayoshi ひさよし |
(personal name) Hisayoshi |
九能 see styles |
kunou / kuno くのう |
(surname) Kunou |
井能 see styles |
inou / ino いのう |
(surname) Inou |
仙能 see styles |
sennou / senno せんのう |
(place-name) Sennou |
伊能 see styles |
iyoku いよく |
(surname) Iyoku |
伎能 see styles |
ginou / gino ぎのう |
(irregular kanji usage) technical skill; ability; capacity |
伝能 see styles |
denno でんの |
(surname) Denno |
伴能 see styles |
bannou / banno ばんのう |
(surname) Bannou |
伸能 see styles |
nobutaka のぶたか |
(given name) Nobutaka |
低能 see styles |
dī néng di1 neng2 ti neng teinou / teno ていのう |
incapable; incompetent; stupid; mentally deficient (noun or adjectival noun) low intelligence; feeble-mindedness; imbecility |
佐能 see styles |
sanou / sano さのう |
(surname) Sanou |
The following table may be helpful for those studying Chinese or Japanese...
Title | Characters | Romaji (Romanized Japanese) | Various forms of Romanized Chinese | |
Neng | 能 | nou / no | néng / neng2 / neng | |
Energy Capability | 能量 | nou ryou / nouryou / no ryo | néng liáng neng2 liang2 neng liang nengliang | |
Hanen | 阿能 | ā néng / a1 neng2 / a neng / aneng | ||
Huineng | 慧能 | huì néng hui4 neng2 hui neng huineng | hui | |
Almighty Omnipotent | 全能 | zennou / zenno | quán néng quan2 neng2 quan neng quanneng | ch`üan neng chüanneng chüan neng |
Psychic Power | 霊能力 | reinouryoku reinoryoku | ||
Supernatural Energy | 超能力 | chounouryoku chonoryoku | chāo néng lì chao1 neng2 li4 chao neng li chaonengli | ch`ao neng li chaonengli chao neng li |
Intelligence Intellect | 智能 / 知能 智能 | chinou / chino | zhì néng / zhi4 neng2 / zhi neng / zhineng | chih neng / chihneng |
Ability to Adapt | 応変能力 | ouhen nouryoku ouhennouryoku ohen noryoku | ||
Patience Yields Peace of Mind | 能忍自安 | néng rěn zì ān neng2 ren3 zi4 an1 neng ren zi an nengrenzian | neng jen tzu an nengjentzuan |
|
Nothing is Impossible | 沒有甚麼不可能 没有什么不可能 | méi yǒu shén bù kě néng mei2 you3 shen2 me5 bu4 ke3 neng2 mei you shen me bu ke neng meiyoushenmebukeneng | mei yu shen me pu k`o neng meiyushenmepukoneng mei yu shen me pu ko neng |
|
If you cannot bite, do not show your teeth | 不能咬人就別齜牙 不能咬人就别龇牙 | bù néng yǎo rén jiù bié zī yá bu4 neng2 yao3 ren2 jiu4 bie2 zi1 ya2 bu neng yao ren jiu bie zi ya bunengyaorenjiubieziya | pu neng yao jen chiu pieh tzu ya | |
Only God Can Judge Me | 衹有上帝能評判我 只有上帝能评判我 | zhǐ yǒu shàng dì néng píng pàn wǒ zhi3 you3 shang4 di4 neng2 ping2 pan4 wo3 zhi you shang di neng ping pan wo | chih yu shang ti neng p`ing p`an wo chih yu shang ti neng ping pan wo |
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Not Only Can Water Float A Boat, It Can Sink It Also | 水能載舟亦能覆舟 水能载舟亦能覆舟 | shuǐ néng zài zhōu yì néng fù zhōu shui3 neng2 zai4 zhou1 yi4 neng2 fu4 zhou1 shui neng zai zhou yi neng fu zhou | shui neng tsai chou i neng fu chou | |
Nothing is Impossible | 何も不可能じゃない | nan mo fukanou janai nanmofukanoujanai nan mo fukano janai | ||
One who walks by the river may end up with wet feet | 常在河邊走哪能不濕鞋 常在河边走哪能不湿鞋 | cháng zài hé biān zǒu nǎ néng bù shī xié chang2 zai4 he2 bian1 zou3 na3 neng2 bu4 shi1 xie2 chang zai he bian zou na neng bu shi xie | ch`ang tsai ho pien tsou na neng pu shih hsieh chang tsai ho pien tsou na neng pu shih hsieh |
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We are not born with knowledge, how does one achieve maturity? | 人非生而知之者熟能無惑 | rén fēi shēng ér zhī zhī zhě shú néng wú huò ren2 fei1 sheng1 er2 zhi1 zhi1 zhe3 shu2 neng2 wu2 huo4 ren fei sheng er zhi zhi zhe shu neng wu huo | jen fei sheng erh chih chih che shu neng wu huo | |
Black or white cat matters not as long as it can catch mice | 不管黑貓白貓能捉著老鼠的就是好貓 不管黑猫白猫能捉着老鼠的就是好猫 | bù guǎn hēi māo bái māo néng zhuō zhe lǎo shǔ de jiù shì hǎo mǎo bu4 guan3 hei1 mao1 bai2 mao1 neng2 zhuo1 zhe lao3 shu3 de jiu4 shi4 hao3 mao3 bu guan hei mao bai mao neng zhuo zhe lao shu de jiu shi hao mao | pu kuan hei mao pai mao neng cho che lao shu te chiu shih hao mao | |
Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark | 信唸是在黎明前的黑闇中能感到光明的鳥 信念是在黎明前的黑暗中能感到光明的鸟 | xìn niǎn shì zài lí míng qián de hēi àn zhōng néng gǎn dào guāng míng de niǎo xin4 nian3 shi4 zai4 li2 ming2 qian2 de hei1 an4 zhong1 neng2 gan3 dao4 guang1 ming2 de niao3 xin nian shi zai li ming qian de hei an zhong neng gan dao guang ming de niao | hsin nien shih tsai li ming ch`ien te hei an chung neng kan tao kuang ming te niao hsin nien shih tsai li ming chien te hei an chung neng kan tao kuang ming te niao |
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Daodejing Tao Te Ching - Chapter 9 | 持而盈之不如其已揣而梲之不可長保金玉滿堂莫之能守富貴而驕自遺其咎功遂身退天之道 持而盈之不如其已揣而梲之不可长保金玉满堂莫之能守富贵而骄自遗其咎功遂身退天之道 | chí ér yíng zhī bù rú qí yǐ chuǎi ér zhī bù kě cháng bǎo jīn yù mǎn táng mò zhī néng shǒu fù guì ér jiāo zì yí qí jiù gōng suì shēn tuì tiān zhī dào chi2 er2 ying2 zhi1 bu4 ru2 qi2 yi3 chuai3 er2 棁 zhi1 bu4 ke3 chang2 bao3 jin1 yu4 man3 tang2 mo4 zhi1 neng2 shou3 fu4 gui4 er2 jiao1 zi4 yi2 qi2 jiu4 gong1 sui4 shen1 tui4 tian1 zhi1 dao4 chi er ying zhi bu ru qi yi chuai er 棁 zhi bu ke chang bao jin yu man tang mo zhi neng shou fu gui er jiao zi yi qi jiu gong sui shen tui tian zhi dao | ch`ih erh ying chih pu ju ch`i i ch`uai erh chih pu k`o ch`ang pao chin yü man t`ang mo chih neng shou fu kuei erh chiao tzu i ch`i chiu kung sui shen t`ui t`ien chih tao chih erh ying chih pu ju chi i chuai erh chih pu ko chang pao chin yü man tang mo chih neng shou fu kuei erh chiao tzu i chi chiu kung sui shen tui tien chih tao |
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Serenity Prayer | 上帝賜給我平靜去接受我所不能改變的給我勇氣去改變我所能改變的並給我智慧去分辨這兩者 上帝赐给我平静去接受我所不能改变的给我勇气去改变我所能改变的并给我智慧去分辨这两者 | shàng dì cì wǒ píng jìng qù jiē shòu wǒ suǒ bù néng gǎi biàn de wǒ yǒng qì qù gǎi biàn wǒ suǒ néng gǎi biàn de bìng wǒ zhì huì qù fēn biàn zhè liǎng zhě shang4 di4 ci4 gei3 wo3 ping2 jing4 qu4 jie1 shou4 wo3 suo3 bu4 neng2 gai3 bian4 de gei3 wo3 yong3 qi4 qu4 gai3 bian4 wo3 suo3 neng2 gai3 bian4 de bing4 gei3 wo3 zhi4 hui4 qu4 fen1 bian4 zhe4 liang3 zhe3 shang di ci gei wo ping jing qu jie shou wo suo bu neng gai bian de gei wo yong qi qu gai bian wo suo neng gai bian de bing gei wo zhi hui qu fen bian zhe liang zhe | shang ti tz`u kei wo p`ing ching ch`ü chieh shou wo so pu neng kai pien te kei wo yung ch`i ch`ü kai pien wo so neng kai pien te ping kei wo chih hui ch`ü fen pien che liang che shang ti tzu kei wo ping ching chü chieh shou wo so pu neng kai pien te kei wo yung chi chü kai pien wo so neng kai pien te ping kei wo chih hui chü fen pien che liang che |
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Heart Sutra | 觀自在菩薩行深般若波羅蜜多時照見五蘊皆空度一切苦厄舍利子色不異空空不異色色即是空空即是色受想行識亦復如是舍利子是諸法空相不生不滅不垢不淨不增不減是故空中無色無受想行識無眼耳鼻舌身意無色聲香味觸法無眼界乃至無意識界無無明亦無無明盡乃至無老死亦無老死盡無苦集滅道無智亦無得以無所得故菩提薩埵依般若波羅蜜多故心無罣礙無罣礙故無有恐怖遠離顛倒夢想究竟涅盤三世諸佛依般若波羅蜜多故得阿耨多羅三藐三菩提故知般若波羅蜜多是大神咒是大明咒是無上咒是無等等咒能除一切苦真實不虛故說般若波羅蜜多咒即說咒曰揭諦揭諦波羅揭諦波羅僧揭諦菩提薩婆訶 观自在菩萨行深般若波罗蜜多时照见五蕴皆空度一切苦厄舍利子色不异空空不异色色即是空空即是色受想行识亦复如是舍利子是诸法空相不生不灭不垢不净不增不减是故空中无色无受想行识无眼耳鼻舌身意无色声香味触法无眼界乃至无意识界无无明亦无无明尽乃至无老死亦无老死尽无苦集滅道无智亦无得以无所得故菩提萨埵依般若波罗蜜多故心无罣碍无罣碍故无有恐怖远离颠倒梦想究竟涅盘三世诸佛依般若波罗蜜多故得阿耨多罗三藐三菩提故知般若波罗蜜多是大神咒是大明咒是无上咒是无等等咒能除一切苦真实不虚故说般若波罗蜜多咒即说咒曰揭谛揭谛波罗揭谛波罗僧揭谛菩提萨婆诃 | |||
In some entries above you will see that characters have different versions above and below a line. In these cases, the characters above the line are Traditional Chinese, while the ones below are Simplified Chinese. |
Successful Chinese Character and Japanese Kanji calligraphy searches within the last few hours...
All of our calligraphy wall scrolls are handmade.
When the calligrapher finishes creating your artwork, it is taken to my art mounting workshop in Beijing where a wall scroll is made by hand from a combination of silk, rice paper, and wood.
After we create your wall scroll, it takes at least two weeks for air mail delivery from Beijing to you.
Allow a few weeks for delivery. Rush service speeds it up by a week or two for $10!
When you select your calligraphy, you'll be taken to another page where you can choose various custom options.
The wall scroll that Sandy is holding in this picture is a "large size"
single-character wall scroll.
We also offer custom wall scrolls in small, medium, and an even-larger jumbo size.
Professional calligraphers are getting to be hard to find these days.
Instead of drawing characters by hand, the new generation in China merely type roman letters into their computer keyboards and pick the character that they want from a list that pops up.
There is some fear that true Chinese calligraphy may become a lost art in the coming years. Many art institutes in China are now promoting calligraphy programs in hopes of keeping this unique form
of art alive.
Even with the teachings of a top-ranked calligrapher in China, my calligraphy will never be good enough to sell. I will leave that to the experts.
The same calligrapher who gave me those lessons also attracted a crowd of thousands and a TV crew as he created characters over 6-feet high. He happens to be ranked as one of the top 100 calligraphers in all of China. He is also one of very few that would actually attempt such a feat.
Check out my lists of Japanese Kanji Calligraphy Wall Scrolls and Old Korean Hanja Calligraphy Wall Scrolls.