能 was originally a picture of a BEAR — you can still sense the paws and body in its parts. Because the bear was seen as powerful and capable, the character was borrowed to mean 'able / can'. The bear meaning moved on to 熊 (xióng).
能 is one of three ways Chinese says 'can', and the distinction is worth knowing: 会 (huì) = a learned skill (我会说中文 = I can speak Chinese, I learned how); 能 (néng) = capability or possibility (我能来 = I'm able to come, nothing stops me); 可以 (kěyǐ) = permission (可以吗? = may I?). For 'I'm able to / it's possible', reach for 能: 你能帮我吗? (Can you help me?).
Once a mighty BEAR — powerful, capable: to be ABLE, CAN.
能 hides a bear! It once pictured one; when it was borrowed for 'able', the animal got a new character, 熊 (bear). Three 'cans' to know: 会 (learned skill), 能 (capability), 可以 (permission).