能人
néng rén · HSK 7
capable person
💪 能 (able) + 人 (person) = able person, a capable one; also names Homo habilis
能 means can or able, 人 means person, so 能人 is literally an able-person: someone skilled or capable. Scientists reused it for Homo habilis, the handy man hominid named for its tool-making ability.
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'.
人 — pictograph of a standing person
人 is a pictograph showing a person viewed from the side, with two strokes representing the legs and torso of a standing human. In oracle bone script it clearly depicted a figure leaning slightly forward. The meaning has remained 'person' or 'human' throughout its history.