智能
zhì néng · HSK 4
smart
🧠 智能 = 智 (wisdom) + 能 (ability) — wisdom-ability = intelligence
智 combines 知 (know) over 日 (sun/day), suggesting daily knowing → wisdom. 能 originally depicted a bear, later borrowed to mean capability. Together: the capacity of wisdom, i.e. smart or intelligent.
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'.