体能

tǐ néng · HSK 7

physical capability

💪 体 body + 能 ability = body-ability = physical capability, stamina

体 (tǐ) is body and 能 (néng) is ability or capacity. Stick them together and you get the body's capacity for work: physical capability and stamina. 能 also shows up in 能力 (ability) and 可能 (possible).

能 — 厶 (head) + 月 (body/flesh) + 匕匕 (legs)
Originally a pictograph of a bear, showing its head, body, and powerful legs. Because bears were seen as strong and capable, the character was borrowed to mean 'ability' or 'can'. A new character 熊 (with the fire radical 灬) was later created for 'bear'.

More Chinese words · How Chinese works