Talent and skill

Lets you praise or judge what someone can do.

Mix-ups All three translate as 'ability': sainou is inborn, jitsuryoku is proven, nouryoku is general.

sainou

talent; gift

A natural gift: ~ no sainou ga aru (have a talent for ~).

Sainou is inborn; jitsuryoku is proven skill; nouryoku is ability in general.

casual

e no sainou aru yo ne

You've really got a talent for drawing.

絵の才能あるよね

polite

e no sainou ga arimasu ne

You have a real talent for drawing.

絵の才能がありますね

Written 才能 · さいのうRank #1611 in 3,030 TV dramas

ability; capability

Ability in general, often for work or study; in dramas also superpowers.

Chounouryoku = supernatural powers. Day to day, 'can do' is just dekiru.

casual

kare wa nouryoku wa takai kedo, yaru ki ga nai

He's very capable, but he's got no drive.

彼は能力は高いけど、やる気がない

polite

kare wa nouryoku wa takai desu ga, yaru ki ga arimasen

He's very capable, but he has no drive.

彼は能力は高いですが、やる気がありません

Written 能力 · のうりょくRank #2123 in 3,030 TV dramas

real ability; actual skill

The skill you actually show, in contests or at work; often set against luck.

Jitsuryoku o dasu = perform at your true level.

casual

un ja nakute jitsuryoku da yo

That wasn't luck, that was skill.

運じゃなくて実力だよ

polite

un de wa naku jitsuryoku desu yo

That wasn't luck, that was real skill.

運ではなく実力ですよ

Written 実力 · じつりょくRank #2983 in 3,030 TV dramas