能力|のうりょくnouryoku[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. nounability; faculty
   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.

• Synonym力量りきりょうNeutralOne's capacity to shoulder a task; often used in evaluating people, as in 「力量不足」.
• Synonym能のうNeutralTalent or ability, as in the common phrase 「能がない」; it also names the noh theatre.
• Synonym才能さいのうNeutralInborn talent, as in a talent for music; 「能力」 also covers abilities acquired through learning.
• Synonym技量ぎりょうWrittenWritten/formal. The level of one's technical skill, as in 「技量を磨く」.
• Synonym実力じつりょくNeutralThe real ability one actually has, as in 「実力を発揮する」; often contrasted with fame or reputation.
• Synonym才さいNeutralA counter for years of age; written 「才」 it can also mean talent by itself, as in 「才がある」 — but for age it has no connection to 「能力」.
• Synonym力ちからNeutralThe broadest of these words, covering strength as well as ability, as in 「日本語の力」; 「能力」 is the more formal choice.
• Synonym腕うでNeutralLiterally the arm; by extension, one's skill or knack, as in 「腕がいい」「腕を上げる」.
• Synonym手腕しゅわんWrittenWritten/formal. Skill in handling affairs, mostly in politics and business, as in 「経営手腕」.
• Synonym腕前うでまえNeutralSkill in a craft or art, as in 「料理の腕前」.
• SynonymキャパシティNeutralLoanword for capacity — how much a container or facility holds, or the workload a person can handle, as in 「キャパオーバー」.
• SynonymアビリティーNeutralLoanword seen mostly for the skills of game characters; in everyday speech say 「能力」.
• Synonym才幹さいかんWrittenWritten/formal. The ability to get things done; rare.
• Synonym才力さいりょくWrittenWritten/formal. Intellectual ability; rare.
• Synonym才腕さいわんWrittenWritten/formal. Talent and skill for getting things done; rare.
• Synonym能才のうさいWrittenWritten/formal. A person of talent, or such talent itself; rare.
• SynonymケイパビリティWrittenWritten/formal. A loanword for the capability of a person, organization or system, common in business and management contexts; in daily speech say 「能力」.
• SynonymスキルNeutralLoanword for skills gained through training, as in 「ビジネススキル」.
• Related素質そしつNeutralInborn aptitude or potential, as in 「画家の素質がある」.
• Antonym無能むのうNeutralIncompetence, the lack of ability; the opposite of 「能力」.

Use 「能力」 as the default word for the ability to get things done, whether learned or innate. For inborn talent say 「才能」 or 「素質」; for real, proven ability 「実力」; for hands-on skill 「腕」 or 「腕前」; for trained workplace skills 「スキル」. 「力」 is broader and looser; 「技量」 and 「手腕」 are written/formal words for technical level and executive ability. The rare written compounds 「才幹」「才力」「才腕」「能才」 and the loanwords 「キャパシティ」「アビリティー」「ケイパビリティ」 suit special contexts; 「能」 also names noh theatre, and 「無能」 is the opposite: incompetence.

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

1. ある物事ものごとを成し遂なしとげる力ちから。
2. 知性ちせい・感情かんじょう・記憶きおくなどの精神せいしん作用さようの実体じったいとして仮定かていされたもの。
3. 一定いっていの事柄ことがらについて必要ひつようとされる人ひとの資格しかく。