This page in your language

فارسی

العربية

Deutsch

Español

Français

日本語

한국어

Português

中文

हिन्दी

B1 noun #5,000 most common 8 min read

产能

channeng Top 5,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 产能 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 产能 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you don't need to use '产能' (chǎnnéng) in daily conversation, but it's helpful to recognize its parts. '产' (chǎn) is like 'make' and '能' (néng) is 'can' or 'ability.' Think of it as 'The ability to make things.' In very simple terms, if you have a big factory, you have a big '产能.' At this stage, just remember it relates to factories and making many things at once. You might see it on a sign in a toy factory or a news headline about cars. It's a 'big' word for 'how much a place can make.'

At the A2 level, you can start to see '产能' in simple business contexts. Imagine you are talking about a small shop or a bakery. You could say, 'This oven's 产能 is 50 breads an hour.' It's a noun. It describes the limit of a machine. You will often see it with words like '大' (big) or '小' (small). For example, '这家工厂的产能很大' (This factory's capacity is very big). It is a step up from just saying 'they make a lot of things.' It focuses on what they *could* make if they worked hard all day.

At the B1 level, you should be able to use '产能' (chǎnnéng) in discussions about work, industry, or the economy. This is a key intermediate word. You should distinguish it from '产量' (actual output). Use it when talking about business plans: 'We need to increase our 产能 to meet the new orders.' You will also hear it in news about '产能过剩' (overcapacity), which is when factories make too much and nobody buys it. At B1, you should pair it with verbs like '提高' (improve) and '扩大' (expand).

At the B2 level, you are expected to use '产能' fluently in professional settings. You should understand phrases like '产能利用率' (capacity utilization rate) and '落后产能' (outdated capacity). You might participate in a debate about whether a country should 'export its capacity' (产能出海). You should be comfortable using it as a subject in complex sentences, such as '产能的快速扩张导致了价格竞争' (The rapid expansion of capacity led to price competition). You also understand its role in environmental policies, like reducing high-pollution capacity.

At the C1 level, '产能' becomes a tool for nuanced economic and geopolitical analysis. You will use it to discuss 'structural overcapacity' (结构性产能过剩) and 'supply-side reform' (供给侧改革). You understand how 产能 relates to marginal cost and economies of scale. In academic or high-level business writing, you might use it to describe 'latent capacity' or 'cross-border industrial capacity cooperation.' Your usage should be precise, distinguishing between 'effective capacity' and 'designed capacity' in technical reports.

At the C2 level, you master '产能' in all its abstract and metaphorical applications. You can discuss the philosophical implications of 'industrial capacity' on global power dynamics. You can read and write high-level policy papers regarding the 'optimization of global capacity layout.' You use the term effortlessly in spontaneous high-stakes negotiations or academic lectures. You understand the subtle differences in how the term is used in different industries—from semiconductor 'wafer capacity' to 'crude oil production capacity'—and can adapt your register perfectly.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

产能 in 30 Seconds

产能 (chǎnnéng) is a noun meaning 'production capacity' or the potential maximum output of a system.
It is primarily used in industrial, business, and economic contexts to describe factories or machines.
It differs from 产量 (chǎnliàng), which is the actual amount produced in reality.
Common phrases include 产能过剩 (overcapacity) and 提高产能 (increase capacity).

The Chinese term 产能 (chǎnnéng) is a fundamental concept in business, economics, and industrial engineering. At its core, it represents the potential or the ceiling of what a system can achieve in terms of output. Unlike 'production' (产量), which refers to what has actually been made, 产能 defines the maximum capability of a factory, a machine, or even an entire national economy within a specific timeframe.

Etymological Breakdown: The first character, 产 (chǎn), means to produce, give birth to, or yield. The second character, 能 (néng), refers to ability, power, or energy. Together, they literally translate to 'production ability.'

In a modern context, you will encounter this word most frequently in financial news, corporate annual reports, and discussions about supply chains. For instance, when a semiconductor company announces it is building a new plant, they are essentially 'expanding their 产能.' Conversely, during an economic downturn, a factory might suffer from 'excess capacity' (产能过剩), meaning they have the ability to make more than the market currently demands.

这家新工厂投产后，我们的年产能将翻一番。 (After this new factory goes into production, our annual production capacity will double.)

Beyond physical goods, the term is increasingly used in the energy sector. 'Green capacity' or 'renewable energy capacity' is often discussed using this term to describe how much electricity a wind farm or solar park is capable of generating at peak performance. It is a word that bridges the gap between engineering reality and economic planning.

Macroeconomic Context: Governments monitor national 产能 to prevent inflation. If demand exceeds capacity, prices rise. If capacity exceeds demand significantly, it leads to waste and price wars.

政府正在努力化解钢铁行业的过剩产能。 (The government is working hard to resolve excess capacity in the steel industry.)

In summary, 产能 is about potential. It is the scale of possibility. Whether you are discussing the 'capacity' of a battery to store energy (in some technical contexts) or the 'capacity' of a production line to churn out smartphones, this word is your go-to noun for describing the upper limits of industrial output.

Using 产能 (chǎnnéng) correctly requires pairing it with the right verbs and adjectives. As a noun, it usually functions as the object of an action or the subject of a descriptive clause. It is most commonly found in formal, technical, or business-oriented sentences.

Common Verb Pairings: 1. 提高 (tígāo) - To increase/improve capacity.
2. 扩大 (kuòdà) - To expand capacity.
3. 释放 (shìfàng) - To release/utilize capacity.
4. 削减 (xuējiǎn) - To cut capacity.
5. 达到 (dádào) - To reach a certain capacity.

When you want to describe the state of capacity, you use adjectives like 'full' (满负荷), 'excess' (过剩), or 'insufficient' (不足). These combinations help paint a clear picture of the operational health of an enterprise.

由于订单激增，工厂目前的产能严重不足。 (Due to a surge in orders, the factory's current production capacity is severely insufficient.)

Notice that in Chinese, we don't usually say 'my personal 产能' when talking about individual productivity; for that, we use 效率 (xiàolǜ - efficiency) or 生产力 (shēngchǎnlì - productivity/forces of production). 产能 is almost exclusively reserved for machines, factories, industries, and economies.

In complex sentences, 产能 often appears in 'Resultative' structures. For example, 'Investing in technology to improve production capacity.' Here, the focus is on the transformation of the capacity itself.

Adjective Modifiers: - 有效产能 (Effective capacity)
- 理论产能 (Theoretical capacity)
- 闲置产能 (Idle capacity)
- 核心产能 (Core capacity)

我们需要通过技术升级来释放潜在的产能。 (We need to release potential production capacity through technological upgrades.)

Finally, remember that 产能 is a neutral term. It only gains positive or negative connotations through context. High capacity is good if demand is high, but 'high capacity' (产能过高) can be a burden if the market is saturated.

If you tune into Chinese media or step into a professional environment, 产能 (chǎnnéng) will appear in several specific 'habitats.' Understanding these contexts will help you recognize the word instantly when it's spoken.

1. Financial News & Stock Market Analysis: Analysts on channels like CCTV-2 (Finance) frequently discuss the 'utilization rate of capacity' (产能利用率). If a company's stock is rising, it might be because their 'new capacity is being released' (新产能释放), signaling higher future profits.

In the corporate world, during quarterly meetings, managers will report on whether the production lines are running at 'full capacity' (满负荷运行). If you are working in manufacturing in cities like Shenzhen or Suzhou, you will hear engineers discussing 'optimizing capacity' (优化产能) to reduce bottlenecks in the assembly process.

目前的产能利用率仅为百分之六十。 (The current capacity utilization rate is only sixty percent.)

Another frequent context is the global supply chain discussion. You might hear news reports about 'international capacity cooperation' (国际产能合作), which refers to Chinese companies building factories abroad or collaborating with foreign partners to share industrial capabilities. This is a key part of the 'Belt and Road Initiative' vocabulary.

2. Environmental and Energy Discussions: When discussing climate change, experts talk about 'clean energy capacity' (清洁能源产能). They compare the capacity of traditional coal plants versus the growing capacity of wind and solar installations.

中国的光伏产能位居世界前列。 (China's photovoltaic production capacity ranks among the top in the world.)

Lastly, in daily life, you might hear it used slightly more loosely in the tech world. For example, when a new iPhone or a popular electric vehicle (EV) is launched and there's a long waiting list, people will complain that 'the manufacturer's capacity can't keep up' (厂家的产能跟不上). This usage brings the technical term into the realm of consumer frustration.

While 产能 (chǎnnéng) is a relatively straightforward noun, English speakers often make specific errors when translating it directly from 'productivity' or 'capacity' concepts in their own language.

Mistake 1: Confusing 产能 with 产量: This is the most frequent error.
- 产能 (Capacity): What you *could* produce (the limit).
- 产量 (Output/Yield): What you *actually* produced.
Example: 'The factory's output was 1000 units' should use 产量, not 产能.

If you say '我们的产能是1000个,' it means you are capable of making 1000, but you might have only made 500 today. Using them interchangeably in a business report will lead to serious misunderstandings about performance versus potential.

❌ 去年我们的产能是五万台，但我们只卖出了三万台。
✅ 去年我们的产量是五万台，但我们只卖出了三万台。
(Note: Capacity doesn't change based on sales, but output does.)

Another subtle mistake involves the verb collocations. English speakers might try to 'do' capacity or 'make' capacity. In Chinese, you must 'expand' (扩大), 'increase' (提高), or 'build' (建设) it. You cannot 'do' (做) 产能.

Mistake 3: Misusing 'Overcapacity': When describing a market with too many goods, don't just say '产能多' (many capacity). Use the specific idiomatic term 产能过剩 (chǎnnéng guòshèng), which is the standard term for 'overcapacity.'

❌ 这个行业有太多的产能。
✅ 这个行业存在严重的产能过剩问题。

Finally, be careful with 'capacity' in the sense of volume (like a cup or a room). That is 容量 (róngliàng). Using 产能 to describe how many people a stadium can hold is a common and humorous error for beginners.

To truly master 产能 (chǎnnéng), you need to know its neighbors. Chinese has a rich vocabulary for productivity and capability, and choosing the wrong one can change your meaning entirely.

产能 (chǎnnéng) vs. 生产力 (shēngchǎnlì): 产能 is the quantitative limit of a specific unit (e.g., this factory can make 100 cars).
生产力 is a broader, often sociological or economic term referring to the 'productive forces' of a society, including technology, labor, and tools. You wouldn't say a single machine has 'high 生产力' in the same way you'd say it has 'high 产能.'

Another close relative is 产量 (chǎnliàng). As discussed in the 'Common Mistakes' section, this is the actual result. Think of 产能 as the 'potential energy' and 产量 as the 'kinetic energy' of a factory.

虽然我们的产能很高，但由于原材料短缺，今年的产量很低。

What about 效率 (xiàolǜ)? Efficiency refers to how well you use your resources. You can have a huge 产能 but very low 效率 if you waste a lot of power and time to reach that output. 产能 is about the 'how much,' while 效率 is about the 'how well.'

Comparison Table

Word	Focus	Context
产能	Max Potential	Industrial/Macro
产量	Actual Result	Business/Stats
生产力	Productive Power	Sociology/Economy
效率	Resource Ratio	General/Personal

In some specialized fields like logistics, you might hear 吞吐量 (tūntǔliàng). This specifically refers to the capacity of a port or airport to handle cargo—literally 'swallow and spit amount.' While related to 产能, it is specific to the movement of goods rather than their creation.

港口的吞吐量反映了贸易的活跃度，而工厂的产能反映了制造实力。

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The character '能' (néng) originally depicted a bear, representing strength and ability. So '产能' is literally the 'strength to produce.'

Pronunciation Guide

UK /tʃæn nʌŋ/

US /tʃæn nʌŋ/

Second syllable (néng) has a rising inflection.

Rhymes With

本能 (běnnéng) 可能 (kěnéng) 才能 (cáinéng) 功能 (gōngnéng) 智能 (zhìnéng) 技能 (jìnéng) 体能 (tǐnéng) 动能 (dòngnéng)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'chǎn' as 'shǎn'.
Confusing the tones: saying 'chán néng' (rising-rising) instead of 'chǎn néng'.
Merging the two syllables into one sound.
Pronouncing 'eng' like 'en' (chǎn nén).
Using the English word 'capacity' with Chinese syntax.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

Common in news, but requires understanding of business context.

Writing 4/5

Requires correct character strokes and formal usage.

Speaking 3/5

Clear pronunciation but tones must be precise.

Listening 3/5

Easily confused with '产量' in fast speech.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

生产能力工厂增加机器

Learn Next

产量效率供给需求结构

Advanced

供给侧改革宏观调控边际收益规模效应工业4.0

Grammar to Know

Noun compounding

产能 + 过剩 = 产能过剩

Verb-Object structure

提高 (Verb) + 产能 (Object)

Measure words for capacity

通常不使用量词，直接说‘产能’

Adverbial modification

严重 (Adverb) + 过剩 (Adjective) -> 产能严重过剩

Resultative complements

产能提升了 (Capacity has improved/risen)

Examples by Level

工厂有很大的产能。

The factory has a very big production capacity.

Subject + Verb + Adjective + Noun

这个机器的产能是多少？

What is the capacity of this machine?

Interrogative sentence using '多少'

我们要提高产能。

We need to increase capacity.

Verb '提高' + Object '产能'

产能很重要。

Production capacity is very important.

Simple Subject + Predicate

这里的产能很小。

The capacity here is very small.

Describing noun with '小'

他们有产能吗？

Do they have production capacity?

Yes/No question with '吗'

看，这是我们的产能。

Look, this is our capacity.

Demonstrative pronoun '这'

产能增加了。

Capacity has increased.

Noun + Verb + Particle '了'

这家公司的产能比去年更强。

This company's capacity is stronger than last year.

Comparison structure '比'

因为机器坏了，产能下降了。

Because the machine broke, capacity dropped.

Cause and effect '因为...所以...'

我们需要更多的产能来做玩具。

We need more capacity to make toys.

Purpose clause '来...'

他的工厂产能很大，可以做很多衣服。

His factory has a large capacity and can make many clothes.

Compound sentence

新的产能什么时候可以开始？

When can the new capacity start?

Time question '什么时候'

虽然产能高，但是质量不好。

Although the capacity is high, the quality is not good.

Concession structure '虽然...但是...'

请告诉我这家工厂的产能。

Please tell me the capacity of this factory.

Polite request '请'

这种产能对我们很有用。

This kind of capacity is very useful to us.

Preposition '对...有用'

为了扩大产能，公司投资了五百万美元。

In order to expand capacity, the company invested five million dollars.

Purpose '为了...'

目前的产能利用率只有百分之五十。

The current capacity utilization rate is only fifty percent.

Specific business term '产能利用率'

如果产能过剩，产品的价格就会下降。

If there is overcapacity, the price of the product will fall.

Conditional '如果...就...'

通过技术改造，我们成功释放了潜在产能。

Through technological transformation, we successfully released potential capacity.

Method '通过...'

该地区的钢铁产能严重过剩。

The steel capacity in this region is seriously in excess.

Adverb '严重' modifying '过剩'

我们需要评估新生产线的产能。

We need to evaluate the capacity of the new production line.

Verb '评估' (evaluate)

产能的提升有助于降低单位成本。

The improvement in capacity helps to reduce unit costs.

Noun phrase as subject

由于电力短缺，工厂无法发挥全部产能。

Due to power shortages, the factory cannot exert its full capacity.

Verb '发挥' (exert/utilize)

政府出台政策以削减煤炭行业的落后产能。

The government issued policies to cut outdated capacity in the coal industry.

Formal verb '削减' (cut/reduce)

这家合资企业的年产能达到了十万台汽车。

The annual capacity of this joint venture reached 100,000 cars.

Specific noun '年产能' (annual capacity)

产能扩张必须与市场需求相匹配。

Capacity expansion must match market demand.

Verb '相匹配' (to match)

我们需要在保证质量的前提下提高产能。

We need to increase capacity on the premise of ensuring quality.

Condition '在...的前提下'

闲置产能正在造成巨大的资源浪费。

Idle capacity is causing a huge waste of resources.

Present continuous aspect

企业应该通过创新来提升核心产能。

Enterprises should improve core capacity through innovation.

Auxiliary '应该' (should)

全球芯片产能紧张导致了汽车交付延迟。

Tight global chip capacity led to delays in car deliveries.

Adjective '紧张' (tight/strained)

该项目的投产将有效缓解当地的能源产能压力。

The commissioning of this project will effectively ease the local energy capacity pressure.

Verb '缓解' (ease/alleviate)

化解过剩产能是当前供给侧结构性改革的重点。

Resolving overcapacity is the focus of current supply-side structural reform.

Formal policy language

我们需要警惕盲目扩张产能带来的金融风险。

We need to be wary of financial risks brought by blind capacity expansion.

Verb '警惕' (be wary of)

国际产能合作有助于实现各国间的互利共赢。

International capacity cooperation helps achieve win-win results among countries.

Abstract noun '互利共赢'

该产业的产能布局需要进行战略性调整。

The capacity layout of this industry needs a strategic adjustment.

Noun '布局' (layout/distribution)

通过数字化转型，工厂实现了产能的柔性化。

Through digital transformation, the factory achieved flexibility in capacity.

Technical term '柔性化' (flexibility)

产能过剩不仅是经济问题，也是社会问题。

Overcapacity is not only an economic issue but also a social one.

Correlative '不仅...也...'

我们需要从全球视角来审视产能配置的合理性。

We need to examine the rationality of capacity allocation from a global perspective.

Formal verb '审视' (examine/scrutinize)

新兴产业的产能爆发往往伴随着激烈的价格战。

The explosion of capacity in emerging industries is often accompanied by fierce price wars.

Verb '伴随着' (accompanied by)

产能的周期性波动是宏观经济运行中的必然现象。

Cyclical fluctuations in capacity are an inevitable phenomenon in macroeconomic operations.

Academic phrasing

政府应通过市场化手段引导产能的有序退出。

The government should guide the orderly exit of capacity through market-oriented means.

Formal '应' and '引导'

先进产能的持续导入是保持竞争优势的关键。

The continuous introduction of advanced capacity is key to maintaining a competitive advantage.

Abstract concept '持续导入'

产能扩张的边际效益正在递减。

The marginal utility of capacity expansion is diminishing.

Economic term '边际效益'

这种产能输出实际上是技术和标准的全球化。

This capacity output is actually the globalization of technology and standards.

Analytical '实际上是'

产能利用率的深度下挫反映了需求端的疲软。

The deep drop in capacity utilization reflects the weakness of the demand side.

Formal noun '下挫' (drop/fall)

我们需要构建一个协同、高效、绿色的全球产能体系。

We need to build a collaborative, efficient, and green global capacity system.

Adjective listing

产能治理需要国际社会的共同参与和政策协调。

Capacity governance requires the joint participation and policy coordination of the international community.

Complex noun phrase '产能治理'

Synonyms

生产力生产能力产出效能规模

Antonyms

停产亏损

Common Collocations

提高产能

产能过剩

扩大产能

产能利用率

落后产能

闲置产能

满负荷产能

核心产能

潜在产能

年产能

Common Phrases

去产能

— A Chinese economic policy to reduce overcapacity in heavy industries.

政府正在大力推行去产能政策。

产能输出

— Exporting industrial capacity to other countries (building factories abroad).

中非产能输出合作前景广阔。

产能扩张

— The act of growing a company's ability to produce more.

过快的产能扩张可能导致资金链断裂。

释放产能

— To actually start using the potential capacity that was previously idle or new.

新生产线投产后将释放大量产能。

产能布局

— The geographic or strategic distribution of production facilities.

优化的产能布局能降低物流成本。

产能瓶颈

— A stage in the process that limits the overall capacity.

芯片短缺成为了汽车行业的产能瓶颈。

产能储备

— Maintaining extra capacity for future use or emergencies.

我们需要一定的产能储备以应对突发订单。

产能转移

— Moving production capacity from one region or country to another.

劳动密集型产业正向内陆进行产能转移。

产能预警

— A warning that capacity is either too high (excess) or too low (shortage).

行业协会发布了产能预警报告。

产能整合

— Merging different production units to improve overall efficiency.

通过兼并重组实现产能整合。

Often Confused With

产能 vs 产量

Actual output vs. potential capacity.

产能 vs 效率

Resource usage speed vs. maximum output limit.

产能 vs 生产力

Macroeconomic productive forces vs. specific unit capacity.

Idioms & Expressions

"供过于求"

— Supply exceeds demand; often used when 产能 is too high.

市场上产能过剩，导致供过于求。

Formal

"杯水车薪"

— A drop in the bucket; used when small capacity can't solve a huge problem.

这点产能对于庞大的市场来说只是杯水车薪。

Idiomatic

"事半功倍"

— Half the work, double the result; related to high efficiency capacity.

先进的设备能让产能达到事半功倍的效果。

Literary

"绰绰有余"

— More than enough; used for ample capacity.

目前的产能应对这些订单绰绰有余。

Neutral

"捉襟见肘"

— Pulled at the elbows; used when capacity is severely lacking.

订单太多，工厂的产能显得捉襟见肘。

Literary

"日进斗金"

— Earn a lot of money every day; the result of high utilized capacity.

产能全开的工厂日进斗金。

Informal

"开源节流"

— Open sources and reduce expenditure; related to managing capacity/resources.

提高产能是开源，节约成本是节流。

Formal

"供不应求"

— Demand exceeds supply; when capacity is too low.

产品太火爆，目前处于供不应求的状态。

Formal

"大有可为"

— Great prospects; used for industries with growing capacity.

新能源产能扩张大有可为。

Positive

"势如破竹"

— With irresistible force; describing rapid capacity expansion.

该公司的产能扩张势如破竹。

Literary

Easily Confused

产能 vs 产量

Both relate to making things.

产能 is the potential (max), 产量 is the reality (actual).

虽然产能是一千，但今天的产量只有五百。

产能 vs 能力

Both end in '能' and mean 'ability'.

能力 is for people/general skills, 产能 is specifically for industrial production.

他有管理能力，但工厂没有产能。

产能 vs 容量

Both mean 'capacity' in English.

容量 is for volume/space (liters, GB), 产能 is for production rate (units/time).

水杯的容量是500毫升。

产能 vs 能量

Both relate to power.

能量 is physical energy (Joules/Calories), 产能 is industrial capability.

太阳能电池板的产能取决于光照。

产能 vs 效率

Both are performance metrics.

效率 is 'how fast/cheap', 产能 is 'how many in total'.

提高效率可以间接提升产能。

Sentence Patterns

S + 有 + 产能

工厂有产能。

S + 的 + 产能 + 很 + Adj

机器的产能很大。

为了 + V + 产能, ...

为了提高产能，我们买了新机器。

目前的 + 产能 + V + ...

目前的产能达到了极限。

S + 存在 + 产能 + 过剩 + 问题

该行业存在产能过剩问题。

通过 + N + 来 + 释放 + 产能

通过数字化转型来释放产能。

产能的 + 周期性 + N + 反映了 + ...

产能的周期性波动反映了市场变化。

构建 + ... + 的 + 产能 + 体系

构建一个绿色的全球产能体系。

Word Family

Nouns

产品 (product)

产值 (output value)

产业 (industry)

产量 (output)

Verbs

生产 (produce)

产出 (yield)

产生 (generate)

Adjectives

多产 (prolific)

高产 (high-yield)

效率 (efficiency)

规模 (scale)

工业 (industry)

能源 (energy)

制造 (manufacture)

How to Use It

frequency

High in business, medium in daily life.

Common Mistakes

Using 产能 for actual output. → 产量
产能 is the limit/potential; 产量 is the actual result.
Saying '我的产能很高' (My productivity is high). → 我的工作效率很高
产能 is for industrial systems, not individuals.
Using 产能 for a bottle's volume. → 容量
产能 is for production; 容量 is for space/volume.
Saying '做产能' (to do capacity). → 提高/扩大产能
产能 requires specific collocations like 'increase' or 'expand'.
Confusing 产能 with 生产力 in a specific factory context. → 产能
生产力 is a broad economic force; 产能 is a specific factory's limit.

Tips

Verb Matching

Always pair 产能 with 提高 (improve) or 扩大 (expand). Avoid using simple verbs like 做.

Capacity vs Output

Remember: 产能 is what you *can* do; 产量 is what you *did* do.

News Buzzword

Look for '去产能' in Chinese economic news to understand government industrial policy.

Tone Accuracy

Focus on the rising tone of 'néng' to distinguish it from 'nèng' or 'neng'.

Utilization Rate

Learn the phrase '产能利用率' (utilization rate) for professional meetings.

The 'Can-Do' Factory

Think of 产能 as 'Can (能) Produce (产)'.

Stroke Order

Practice the character '产'—it is very common in many other words like '产品' and '产业'.

Scale

Use 产能 for big systems (factories, countries) rather than small personal tasks.

Formal Alternative

Use '生产能力' in extremely formal documents or technical manuals.

Volume vs Production

Don't use 产能 for the volume of a container; use 容量 instead.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

CHAN (like a factory channel) + NENG (like energy). A factory channel needs energy to have capacity.

Visual Association

Imagine a huge funnel (capacity) above a small conveyor belt (actual output). The funnel's size is the 产能.

Word Web

工厂机器工人时间最大值经济投资提高

Challenge

Try to find a news article in Chinese about 'Tesla' or 'Apple' and look for the word 产能. Note if they are increasing or decreasing it.

Word Origin

The term is a modern compound word formed during the industrialization of China in the 20th century. It combines traditional characters to represent a Western economic concept.

Original meaning: Production ability.

Sino-Tibetan (Chinese)

Cultural Context

Be careful when discussing 'overcapacity' (产能过剩) with Chinese business partners as it can be a sensitive political topic regarding trade disputes.

In the West, 'capacity' is often a private company matter. In China, it's frequently a matter of national policy.

China's 13th Five-Year Plan (frequent mention of 产能) Supply-side Structural Reform speeches Belt and Road Initiative capacity cooperation documents

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Manufacturing

优化产能
产能瓶颈
生产线产能
提高产能

Economics

产能过剩
化解产能
去产能
产能布局

Energy

装机产能
能源产能
清洁产能
产能储备

Stock Market

产能释放
产能预期
新增产能
产能利用率

International Trade

产能合作
产能输出
产能转移
全球产能

Conversation Starters

"你们工厂现在的产能利用率是多少？"

"你觉得这个行业是否存在产能过剩的问题？"

"我们应该如何通过技术创新来提高产能？"

"新生产线投产后，预计能增加多少产能？"

"全球芯片产能紧张对你们公司有影响吗？"

Journal Prompts

描述一个你熟悉的工厂，讨论它的产能和实际产量。

如果你是一家公司的CEO，你会如何平衡产能扩张和市场风险？

讨论一下‘去产能’政策对中国经济的影响。

为什么技术进步能提高产能？举例说明。

分析一个由于产能不足导致产品涨价的案例。

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, it sounds very unnatural. For a person, use 效率 (efficiency) or 生产力 (productivity) in a metaphorical sense, or simply 能力 (ability).

Yes, it is exclusively used as a noun in Chinese.

It is a Chinese economic policy aimed at closing down inefficient factories and reducing the total supply in industries like coal and steel to stabilize prices.

You can say '满负荷产能' or '产能全开'.

Usually no. It is mostly for physical goods. For services, we often use '接待能力' (reception capacity) or '处理能力' (processing capacity).

It means 'overcapacity'—when the ability to produce exceeds market demand.

The most direct and standard translation is 产能.

Yes, but in formal writing, '产能巨大' or '高产能' is more common.

产能 is the quantity of goods you can make; 产值 is the monetary value of those goods.

It started as one, but it is now very common in general news and business discussions.