才
ability; talent; sb of a certain type; a capable individual; then and only then; just now; (before an expression of quantity) only; (emphatic, esp. in contrast or correction) really; actually; (variant of 才[cai2]) just now; (variant of 才[cai2]) (before an expression of quantity) only
Closest English meanings
talent·ability·just·only
The Calligrapher — Xiānyú Shū 鲜于枢
Yuan master of fluent running and cursive script.
Yuan calligrapher (1246–1302), master of running script/cursive script — known for 《石鼓歌》. Yuan dynasty
Cultural Story
才 is the native gift, the timber in a man that needs no carving to show. The histories praise 人才 the uncommon man, and 天才 was the heaven-sent few. The character once showed a shoot breaking soil — ability as something that grows. It is the endowment, not the training.
Common words & phrases
- 才能 ability · talent · capability · capacity
- 人才 talent · qualified person · personnel
- 天才 genius · gift · talent
- 才华 talent · brilliance · literary talent
- 刚才 just now · a moment ago
- 才干 ability · competence · capability
Read the story behind the character
才 is the capacity and the moment: 才能 the thing you bring, 人才 the hire, 天才 the child on the poster. 才华 is the writing everyone quotes, 才干 the competence that gets you promoted. 刚才 is the just-now of the story you are telling. It does gift and recency in one small character.
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