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天才 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
天才tiāncáitalentHSK 6, n, 7 strokes, rank #2329, Hard
天才tiāncáigiftHSK 6, n, 7 strokes, rank #2329, Hard
天才tiāncáigeniusHSK 6, n, 7 strokes, rank #2329, Hard
天才tiāncáitalentedHSK 6, n, 7 strokes, rank #2329, Hard
天才tiāncáigiftedHSK 6, n, 7 strokes, rank #2329, Hard
tiāncái(tian1cai2)tian cai T1
  1. 1talent
  2. 2gift
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March 24, 2026

天才tiāncái(tian1cai2)

天才 (tiāncái) refers to a person with exceptional intellectual or creative abilities, often recognized as a genius in a particular field. This term is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to describe individuals who demonstrate extraordinary talent, whether in academics, arts, or other domains.

Strokes7Frequency#2329DifficultyHard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 天才 is often linked to the idea of '天赋' (tiānfù), or innate gifts, emphasizing the belief that some talents are natural rather than solely developed through hard work. This reflects the high value placed on natural ability in academic and artistic circles.

Memory tip

Imagine a bright sky (天) above a talented artist (才) creating a masterpiece. The sky symbolizes the vast potential of a genius, while the artist captures the essence of talent. The pronunciation 'tiān' sounds like 'ten' — as in ten times smarter — and 'cái' can be imagined as a 'sigh' of admiration for their skills.

Meanings of 天才

tiāncái(tian1cai2)
1talent
2gift
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 天才

天才Simplified
7Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#2329Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2

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Podcast: 天才

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AI study notes for 天才

Quick Contrast

天才 (tiāncái) vs 奇才 (qícái): Use 天才 for someone recognized as a genius, while 奇才 implies a talented individual who may not fit the traditional genius mold.

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to overuse 天才 in casual conversation, as it may sound overly formal or exaggerated. Common collocations include '数学天才' (math genius) and '音乐天才' (musical genius). Remember to pronounce both characters clearly, as mispronouncing the tones can change the meaning.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 天才 is useful for discussing topics related to intelligence and achievement. Students should focus on its usage in various contexts, such as in education or professional environments, and practice phrases that describe different types of talents.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 天才 with other words like 人才 (réncái), which refers to a capable person but is less about exceptional genius. For example, saying '他是个人才' (He is a talent) may imply skill but lacks the genius connotation of '他是个天才'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 天才

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Component characters

天tiānday
HSK 14 strokes大
View full entry
才cáiability
HSK 33 strokes扌
View full entry

How to say talent in Chinese

“talent” in Chinese is天才tiāncái

天才 (tiāncái) refers to a person with exceptional intellectual or creative abilities, often recognized as a genius in a particular field. This term is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to describe individuals who demonstrate extraordinary talent, whether in academics, arts, or other domains.

When to use 天才

Be cautious not to overuse 天才 in casual conversation, as it may sound overly formal or exaggerated. Common collocations include '数学天才' (math genius) and '音乐天才' (musical genius). Remember to pronounce both characters clearly, as mispronouncing the tones can change the meaning.

天才 or something close to it

天才 (tiāncái) vs 奇才 (qícái): Use 天才 for someone recognized as a genius, while 奇才 implies a talented individual who may not fit the traditional genius mold.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 天才 with other words like 人才 (réncái), which refers to a capable person but is less about exceptional genius. For example, saying '他是个人才' (He is a talent) may imply skill but lacks the genius connotation of '他是个天才'.

Write 天才

天
才

Practice writing 天才 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar patterns of 天才

天才 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

俄国人民认为____是不分国界的.

The Russian people feel that genius transcends all boundaries.

Example sentences for 天才 (7)

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1
俄国人民认为天才是不分国界的.

é guó rénmín rènwéi tiāncái shì bù fēn guó jiè de.

The Russian people feel that genius transcends all boundaries.
2
天才靠勤奋. (注:用gift或 genius则不当)

tiāncái kào qínfèn. ( zhù: yònggift huò genius zé búdàng)

Talent depends upon industry.
3
天才是靠百分之一的灵感与百分之九十九的苦汗[努力].

tiāncái shì kào bǎifēnzhī yī de línggǎn yǔ bǎifēnzhī jiǔshí jiǔ de kǔ hàn[ nǔlì].

Genius is one percent, inspiration and ninety - nine percent, perspiration.
4
下一份供应量要到明天才能买,他的烟卷儿可只剩四支啦.

xià yī fèn gōngyìng liáng yào dào míngtiān cáinéng mǎi, tā de yān juǎn ér kě zhī shèng sì zhī la.

The new ration did not start till tomorrow and he had only four cigarettes left.
5
在我小的时候,我们家很穷,我们只有在星期天才吃肉.

zài wǒ xiǎo de shíhou, wǒmen jiā hěn qióng, wǒmen zhǐyǒu zài xīngqītiān cái chī ròu.

We were so badly off when I was a child that we had a meat dish for dinner only on Sunday.
6
这水果是昨天才摘的,非常新鲜.

zhè shuǐguǒ shì zuótiān cái zhāi de, fēicháng xīnxiān.

This fruit was picked only yesterday, it's as fresh as a daisy.
7
苔丝直哭得声咽气结,肝肠断绝;因为她憋了这些天了,到今天才一齐都发泄出来.

tāi sī zhí kū de shēng yàn qì jié, gān cháng duànjué; yīnwèi tā biē le zhèxiē tiān le, dào jīntiān cái yìqí dōu fāxiè chūlái.

Tess was convulsed with weeping, the tension of so many days having relaxed at last.

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Frequently asked questions about 天才

天才 specifically refers to individuals with exceptional abilities or genius-level talent, so it should be reserved for those who truly stand out.

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