52291
能う is translated as being able to do something or having capability to do
something. How is its meaning and usage different from できる and potential form
of a verb?
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-13T13:58:20.030
52260
2017-08-14T04:51:48.087
3441
question
grammar potential-form
What is the difference between できる and 能う?
According to RikaiKun app for Chrome, できる is to be up to the task of doing
something, or to be ready or capable, whereas 能う is to be skilled at it.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-13T14:25:54.317
52262
2017-08-13T14:25:54.317
25403
52260
answer
能う is an old word. So, it is not common to use this word different from using
できる commonly.

And goo dictionary says

１ 可能の意を表す。なしうる。できる。「行くこと―・わず」「味については議論するに―・わず」
「危きに臨めば平常なし―・わざる所のものを為し―・う」〈漱石・吾輩は猫である〉

this means "being able to do something or having the capability to do
something".

２ 理にかなう。納得がいく。 「―・はぬことなり。はや出だし奉れ」〈竹取〉

this means "it makes sense".

３ 適する。相当する。 「此れ汝が着る物に―・はず」〈今昔・二三・一八〉

this means "it is appropriate".

Hope it helps.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-13T14:48:50.500
52263
2017-08-13T14:48:50.500
52260
answer
能う is a word mainly used in classical Japanese and
[_kanbun_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanbun). Many native speakers who are
not particularly interested in literature grow up without even knowing this
word until they start to learn classical Japanese at high school.

The meaning of 能う is "to be able", but this was almost always used in its
negative form, 能わず, and meant "not to be able." Examples are found
[here](http://yourei.jp/%E8%83%BD%E3%82%8F%E3%81%9A), although most of them
are classical sentences. ～こと能わず is the most common form which can appear in
stiff fantasy novels and such. For example, 見ること能わず roughly means 見えない.

Unless you are a creative writer who needs to simulate old writings, you
should not be using this word regularly.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-14T04:51:48.087
52291
2017-08-14T04:51:48.087
5010
52260
answer