noun
As a standalone noun, often appears in set phrases such as 能がある and 能がない for ability or usefulness. For modern technical 'function,' 機能 is usually the more explicit word.
彼には人をまとめる能がある。
He has a talent for bringing people together.
口ばかりで、いざとなると何の能もない。
He is all talk and is of no use when it really matters.
noun
Noh theatre; Noh drama
Refers to 能, the traditional Japanese masked musical theatre. In English it is often written 'Noh.'
京都で初めて能を見た。
I saw Noh for the first time in Kyoto.
能の舞台では、動きの一つ一つに意味がある。
On the Noh stage, each movement has meaning.
The general modern word for ability or capacity; more common than standalone 能 for everyday statements about what someone or something can do.
Focuses on talent or natural gift, especially in people; 能 is shorter and often appears in set phrases or compounds.
The normal modern word for function or feature of a machine, system, organ, or institution.
A broader formal term for the classical performing art tradition associated with Noh, often including kyōgen as well.
A Sino-Japanese noun read のう. The kanji 能 is conventionally associated with ability or capacity and is also the standard spelling for the traditional theatre form Noh; no detailed historical derivation is specified.