才
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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Han character
才 (Kangxi radical 64, 手+0, 3 strokes, cangjie input 木竹 (DH), four-corner 40200, composition ⿹𬺰丿(GHTV) or ⿻𬺰丿(JK))
Derived characters
References
- Kangxi Dictionary: page 416, character 30
- Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 11769
- Dae Jaweon: page 763, character 1
- Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 3, page 1824, character 2
- Unihan data for U+624D
Glyph origin
| Historical forms of the character 才 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Shang | Western Zhou | Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han) | Liushutong (compiled in Ming) |
| Oracle bone script | Bronze inscriptions | Small seal script | Transcribed ancient scripts |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Pictogram (象形) — a sharp peg. Same as 弋. See also the top component of 𢦏.
Xu Shen erroneously analyzed this character as a sprout growing from the ground.
Etymology 1
From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *tsa ~ za (“child, offspring, relatives; to come forth (as child at birth); to love; loving”) (STEDT; Schuessler, 2007). "Birth" and "natural characteristic / endowments" are semantically connected, compare 生 (OC *sʰleːŋ, *sreŋs, “live, give birth”) and its derivative 性 (OC *sleŋs, “nature; character; personality; quality”) & 姓 (OC *sleŋs, “family name”). Cognate with 子 ("son").
Derivatives: 材 (OC *zlɯː, “material; timber”), 財 (OC *zlɯː, “riches; property; money”), and 存 ("to exist").
Pronunciation
- Mandarin
- Cantonese
- Hakka (Sixian, PFS): chhòi
- Eastern Min (BUC): cài / chài / còi
- Southern Min
- Wu (Northern, Wugniu): 6ze / 2ze
- Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)+
- Hanyu Pinyin:
- Zhuyin: ㄘㄞˊ
- Tongyong Pinyin: cái
- Wade–Giles: tsʻai2
- Yale: tsái
- Gwoyeu Romatzyh: tsair
- Palladius: цай (caj)
- Sinological IPA (key): /t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵/
- (Standard Chinese)+
- Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
- Jyutping: coi4
- Yale: chòih
- Cantonese Pinyin: tsoi4
- Guangdong Romanization: coi4
- Sinological IPA (key): /t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹/
- (Taishanese, Taicheng)
- Wiktionary: toi3
- Sinological IPA (key): /tʰᵘɔi²²/
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
- Hakka
- (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
- Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: chhòi
- Hakka Romanization System: coiˇ
- Hagfa Pinyim: coi2
- Sinological IPA: /t͡sʰoi̯¹¹/
- (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
- Eastern Min
- (Fuzhou)
- Bàng-uâ-cê: cài / chài / còi
- Sinological IPA (key): /t͡sai⁵³/, /t͡sʰai⁵³/, /t͡søy⁵³/
- (Fuzhou)
- Southern Min
- châi - vernacular;
- chhâi - literary (classifier).
Note:
- Middle Chinese: dzoj
- Old Chinese
- (Baxter–Sagart): /*[dz]ˤə/
- (Zhengzhang): /*zlɯː/
Definitions
才
Compounds
- 一展長才／一展长才
- 一表人才 (yībiǎoréncái)
- 七步之才
- 七步奇才
- 下才
- 三才 (sāncái)
- 三才圖會／三才图会
- 不成才
- 不才 (bùcái)
- 不良才
- 中才
- 乾奴才／干奴才
- 人才 (réncái)
- 人才出眾／人才出众
- 人才外流 (réncái wàiliú)
- 人才庫／人才库 (réncáikù)
- 人才濟濟／人才济济 (réncáijǐjǐ)
- 人才輩出／人才辈出 (réncáibèichū)
- 人才難得／人才难得
- 人盡其才／人尽其才
- 仙才
- 作育英才
- 佳人才子
- 偏才
- 傲世輕才／傲世轻才
- 內才／内才
- 全才 (quáncái)
- 八斗之才
- 八斗才 (bādǒucái)
- 公才公望
- 六才子書／六才子书
- 冠世之才
- 凡才
- 出倫之才／出伦之才
- 力薄才疏
- 匡濟之才／匡济之才
- 博學多才／博学多才 (bóxuéduōcái)
- 取才 (qǔcái)
- 口才 (kǒucái)
- 口才辨給／口才辨给
- 可憎才
- 吃敲才
- 命世之才 (mìngshì zhī cái)
- 命世才
- 善才
- 喬才／乔才
- 善才童子
- 四才子
- 外才
- 多事逞才
- 多才 (duōcái)
- 多才多藝／多才多艺 (duōcáiduōyì)
- 大才 (dàcái)
- 大才槃槃
- 天才 (tiāncái)
- 天才兒童／天才儿童
- 天才教育
- 天才橫溢／天才横溢
- 天縱之才／天纵之才
- 奇才 (qícái)
- 奇才異能／奇才异能
- 女秀才
- 女貌郎才
- 奴才 (núcái)
- 妙才
- 學優才贍／学优才赡
- 學淺才疏／学浅才疏
- 學疏才淺／学疏才浅
- 專才／专才 (zhuāncái)
- 將才／将才 (jiāngcái)
- 專業人才／专业人才 (zhuānyè réncái)
- 將遇良才／将遇良才
- 少年才俊
- 尺二秀才
- 屈才 (qūcái)
- 展才
- 幹才／干才
- 庸才 (yōngcái)
- 廩膳秀才／廪膳秀才
- 徵才／征才 (zhēngcái)
- 德才兼備／德才兼备 (décáijiānbèi)
- 德薄才疏
- 志大才疏 (zhìdàcáishū)
- 志大才短
- 志廣才疏／志广才疏
- 忌才 (jìcái)
- 恃才傲物
- 恃才矜己
- 恃才自專／恃才自专
- 意廣才疏／意广才疏
- 愛才／爱才 (àicái)
- 愛才如命／爱才如命 (àicáirúmìng)
- 愛才好士／爱才好士
- 愛才若渴／爱才若渴
- 憐才／怜才
- 懷才不遇／怀才不遇 (huái cái bù yù)
- 懷才抱德／怀才抱德
- 才人 (cáirén)
- 才俊 (cáijùn)
- 才儲八斗
- 才具 (cáijù)
- 才兼文武
- 才分 (cáifèn)
- 才力 (cáilì)
- 才勇兼優／才勇兼优
- 才名 (cáimíng)
- 才器 (cáiqì)
- 才士
- 才大難用／才大难用
- 才女 (cáinǚ)
- 才如史遷／才如史迁
- 才始
- 才媛
- 才子 (cáizǐ)
- 才子佳人 (cáizǐ jiārén)
- 才子書／才子书
- 才學／才学 (cáixué)
- 才學兼優／才学兼优
- 才守
- 才幹／才干 (cáigàn)
- 才廣妨身／才广妨身
- 才微智淺／才微智浅
- 才德兼備／才德兼备 (cáidéjiānbèi)
- 才怪 (cáiguài)
- 才思 (cáisī)
- 才思敏捷 (cáisīmǐnjié)
- 才悟
- 才情 (châi-chêng) (Min Nan)
- 才料
- 才智 (cáizhì)
- 才望 (cáiwàng)
- 才氣／才气 (cáiqì)
- 才氣無雙／才气无双
- 才為世出／才为世出
- 才略 (cáilüè)
- 才當曹斗
- 才疏學淺／才疏学浅 (cáishūxuéqiǎn)
- 才疏德薄
- 才疏志大
- 才疏意廣／才疏意广
- 才疏計拙／才疏计拙
- 才短氣粗／才短气粗
- 才秀人微
- 才筆／才笔 (cáibǐ)
- 才緒／才绪
- 才能 (cáinéng)
- 才能幹濟／才能干济
- 才色 (cáisè)
- 才華／才华 (cáihuá)
- 才蔽識淺／才蔽识浅
- 才藝／才艺 (cáiyì)
- 才藝班／才艺班
- 才藻
- 才語／才语
- 才調／才调 (cáidiào)
- 才識／才识 (cáishí)
- 才貌 (cáimào)
- 才貌雙全／才貌双全
- 才貫二酉／才贯二酉
- 才賦／才赋 (cáifù)
- 才路
- 才輕德薄／才轻德薄
- 才過子建／才过子建
- 才過屈宋／才过屈宋
- 才難／才难
- 才非玉潤／才非玉润
- 才高八斗 (cáigāobādǒu)
- 才高意廣／才高意广
- 才高氣傲／才高气傲
- 才高行厚
- 才高行潔／才高行洁
- 捷才
- 掃眉才子／扫眉才子
- 揚己露才／扬己露才
- 撥亂之才／拨乱之才
- 文才 (wéncái)
- 文武全才
- 斗筲之才
- 曠世奇才／旷世奇才
- 曠世逸才／旷世逸才 (kuàngshìyìcái)
- 有才 (yǒucái)
- 有才無命／有才无命
- 未易才
- 朽木之才
- 槃才
- 槃槃大才
- 歪才
- 歷練之才／历练之才
- 殺才／杀才
- 求才
- 求才若渴
- 江淹才盡／江淹才尽
- 江郎才盡／江郎才尽 (jiānglángcáijìn)
- 沿才授職／沿才授职
- 洛陽才子／洛阳才子
- 滿腹才學／满腹才学
- 潑才／泼才
- 濟世之才／济世之才
- 片善小才
- 特殊才能
- 狗才
- 王佐之才
- 玉尺量才
- 瑣才／琐才
- 甄才品能
- 畎畝下才／畎亩下才
- 異才／异才 (yìcái)
- 當世才度／当世才度
- 痛失英才
- 白鶴秀才／白鹤秀才
- 百里之才
- 真才實學／真才实学 (zhēncáishíxué)
- 矜才使氣／矜才使气
- 矜能負才／矜能负才
- 碌碌庸才
- 秀才 (xiùcái)
- 秀才人情
- 秀才造反
- 絕才／绝才 (juécái)
- 經世之才／经世之才
- 經國之才／经国之才
- 經濟之才／经济之才
- 美才
- 聰明才智／聪明才智 (cōngmíngcáizhì)
- 育才 (yùcái)
- 茂才 (màocái)
- 英才 (yīngcái)
- 英才俊偉／英才俊伟
- 茂才異等／茂才异等
- 菲才寡學／菲才寡学
- 蓋世之才／盖世之才
- 蓋世雄才／盖世雄才
- 行短才喬／行短才乔
- 行短才高
- 詠雪之才／咏雪之才
- 誇才賣智／夸才卖智
- 謏才／𫍲才
- 謊敲才／谎敲才
- 識多才廣／识多才广
- 識才尊賢／识才尊贤
- 負才／负才
- 負才任氣／负才任气
- 負才使氣／负才使气
- 賤才／贱才
- 賢才／贤才 (xiáncái)
- 赤才 (Chìcái)
- 超世之才
- 趫才／𰷶才
- 軟人才／软人才
- 輇才／辁才
- 辯才／辩才 (biàncái)
- 辯才無礙／辩才无碍 (biàncáiwú'ài)
- 通人達才／通人达才
- 通才 (tōngcái)
- 通才教育
- 通才練識／通才练识
- 逸才 (yìcái)
- 逸群之才
- 過人才略／过人才略
- 適才／适才 (shìcái)
- 遺才／遗才
- 郎才女姿
- 郎才女貌
- 野無遺才／野无遗才
- 量才錄用／量才录用
- 長才／长才 (chángcái)
- 隨才器使／随才器使
- 雄才大略 (xióngcáidàlüè)
- 需才孔亟
- 露才揚己／露才扬己
- 霸才
- 非才
- 風流才子／风流才子
- 飽學秀才／饱学秀才
- 驚才絕豔／惊才绝艳
- 高才 (gāocái)
- 高才卓識／高才卓识
- 高才博學／高才博学
- 高才大學／高才大学
- 高才大德
- 高才捷足
- 高才生
- 高才碩學／高才硕学
- 高才絕學／高才绝学
- 高才遠識／高才远识
- 鬼才 (guǐcái)
Etymology 2
Pronunciation
- Mandarin
- Cantonese (Jyutping): coi4
- Gan (Wiktionary): cai2
- Eastern Min (BUC): chăi / chài
- Wu (Northern, Wugniu): 6ze / 2ze
- Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)+
- Hanyu Pinyin:
- Zhuyin: ㄘㄞˊ
- Tongyong Pinyin: cái
- Wade–Giles: tsʻai2
- Yale: tsái
- Gwoyeu Romatzyh: tsair
- Palladius: цай (caj)
- Sinological IPA (key): /t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵/
- (Dungan)
- Cyrillic and Wiktionary: цэ (ce, I)
- Sinological IPA (key): /t͡sʰɛ²⁴/
- (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)
- (Standard Chinese)+
- Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
- Jyutping: coi4
- Yale: chòih
- Cantonese Pinyin: tsoi4
- Guangdong Romanization: coi4
- Sinological IPA (key): /t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹/
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
- Gan
- (Nanchang)
- Wiktionary: cai2
- Sinological IPA (key): /t͡sʰai²⁴/
- (Nanchang)
- Eastern Min
- (Fuzhou)
- Bàng-uâ-cê: chăi / chài
- Sinological IPA (key): /t͡sʰai⁵⁵/, /t͡sʰai⁵³/
- (Fuzhou)
Note:
- chăi - vernacular;
- chài - literary.
- Middle Chinese: dzoj, dzojH
- Old Chinese
- (Zhengzhang): /*zlɯː/, /*zlɯːs/
Definitions
才
Synonyms
| Variety | Location | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | 才2, 再, 方, 始, 方才 | |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Taiwan | 才2 |
| Singapore | 才2 | |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou | 先, 至, 先至 |
| Hong Kong | 先, 至, 先至 | |
| Hakka | Meixian | 正 |
| Southern Min | Xiamen | 才3 |
| Quanzhou | 才3 | |
| Zhangzhou | 才3 | |
| Singapore (Hokkien) | 才3 | |
| Manila (Hokkien) | 才3 | |
| Shantou | 正 | |
| Singapore (Teochew) | 正 | |
| Wu | Shanghai | 再, 才2 |
| Suzhou | 再 | |
| Xiang | Changsha | 才至 |
Compounds
Etymology 3
Possibly from 正 (“just”) (Taiwan MoE).
Pronunciation
- Eastern Min (BUC): ciáh
- Southern Min (Hokkien, POJ): chiah / chah
- Eastern Min
- (Fuzhou)
- Bàng-uâ-cê: ciáh
- Sinological IPA (key): /t͡siɑʔ²⁴/
- (Fuzhou)
- Southern Min
- (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, General Taiwanese)
- (Hokkien: Philippines)
- Pe̍h-ōe-jī: chah
- Tâi-lô: tsah
- Phofsit Daibuun: zaq
- IPA (Philippines): /t͡saʔ⁵/
Definitions
才 (Min)
Synonyms
- (just now):
- (only then):
| Variety | Location | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | 才2, 再, 方, 始, 方才 | |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Taiwan | 才2 |
| Singapore | 才2 | |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou | 先, 至, 先至 |
| Hong Kong | 先, 至, 先至 | |
| Hakka | Meixian | 正 |
| Southern Min | Xiamen | 才3 |
| Quanzhou | 才3 | |
| Zhangzhou | 才3 | |
| Singapore (Hokkien) | 才3 | |
| Manila (Hokkien) | 才3 | |
| Shantou | 正 | |
| Singapore (Teochew) | 正 | |
| Wu | Shanghai | 再, 才2 |
| Suzhou | 再 | |
| Xiang | Changsha | 才至 |
Compounds
Further reading
- “Entry #215”, in 教育部臺灣台語常用詞辭典 [Dictionary of Frequently-Used Taiwan Minnan] (overall work in Mandarin and Hokkien), Ministry of Education, R.O.C., 2024.
Etymology 4
| For pronunciation and definitions of 才 – see 儕 (“(Wu) all; completely; each and every one out of a determinate quantity; always; under all circumstances”). (This character is a variant form of 儕). |
Etymology 5
| For pronunciation and definitions of 才 – see 哉 (“begin, commence; etc.”). (This character is a variant form of 哉). |
Etymology 6
| For pronunciation and definitions of 才 – see 在 (“to exist; to be alive; to be at; to be in; to be located; etc.”). (This character is an ancient form of 在). |
References
- “才”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database), 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014–
Kanji
才
- age
- years old
Readings
Compounds
- 才覚 (saikaku)
- 才気 (saiki)
- 才能 (sainō)
- 漫才 (manzai): a style of double act stand-up comedy
- 天才 (tensai): genius
Etymology 1
Noun
- ability, talent, aptitude
- alternative form of the volumetric unit 抄 (shō)
Etymology 2
| For pronunciation and definitions of 才 – see the following entry. | ||
| ||
| (This term, 才, is an alternative spelling of the above term.) |
Hanja
Han character
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