How to say "ability" in Japanese

• 能力のうりょくJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe broadest term: a person's general capacity or faculty for doing something, mental or physical, whether innate or acquired. This is the safest general choice for 'ability' in abstract contexts such as learning or work.
  彼かれはすぐれた能力のうりょくをもっていた。↗

  His talent was of a high order.
• 性能せいのうJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounThis is the ability of machines rather than people: the performance and efficiency of a device, vehicle or product. Use it when 'ability' means how well a piece of equipment does its job.
  この車くるまはあの車くるまより性能せいのうがよい。↗

  This car has a better performance than that one.
• 才能さいのうJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounNatural talent or gift — 'ability' in the sense of what someone is born with, such as a flair for music or art. It emphasizes natural endowment rather than skill gained through training.
  君きみには音楽おんがくの才能さいのうがある。↗

  You have a gift for music.
• 技量ぎりょうCommon
  nounPractical skill or competence in a craft, sport or profession — the level of ability someone has actually attained. It fits the 'competency' and 'skill' senses better than abstract capacity.
  私にはその仕事しごとをするだけの技量ぎりょうがない。↗

  I'm not equal to doing the task.
• 腕前うでまえJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounA person's skill in a craft or art as shown in what they actually produce or perform, for instance in cooking, calligraphy or sport. It points to demonstrated skill rather than potential.
  私はそのゴルファーの腕前うでまえに驚おどろいた。↗

  I marveled at the golfer's skill.

Choose 能力 for general capacity in people, 性能 for the ability of machines, 才能 for innate talent, and 技量 or 腕前 for practical skill — 技量 stressing attained competence, 腕前 skill as displayed in what one does.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 能力のうりょくability
• 性能せいのうability
• 才能さいのうtalent
• 技量ぎりょうability
• 腕前うでまえability
• 技能ぎのうtechnical skill
• 手際てぎわskill
• 力量りきりょうability
• 手腕しゅわんability
• 才さいability
• 敏腕びんわんability
• 力りょくstrength
• アビリティーability
• 力りきstrength
• 才幹さいかんability
• 才力さいりょくability
• 能才のうさいability
• 甲斐性かいしょうresourcefulness
• 才器さいきtalent
• 才腕さいわんskill
• 実力じつりょく(real) ability
• 力ちからcapability
• 腕うでability
• 働きはたらきachievement
• 戦力せんりょくability (to compete)
• 器量きりょうability
• 器うつわability
• 器きability
• 材ざいtalent