才
genius, years old, cubic shaku
Readings
On'yomi
- サイ
Kun'yomi
—
Meaning
才 centers on innate ability or talent, often of a remarkable kind (genius). The 'years old' sense is a conventional abbreviation for age, and 'cubic shaku' is a specialized unit of volume, both derived from the character's use as a shorthand rather than from a single conceptual core.
Most common words using 才
20 of 122- 天才てんさいN2
genius; prodigy; natural gift
- 才さい
ability; gift; talent; aptitude; genius
- 才能さいのうN3
talent; ability
- 漫才まんざいN1
manzai; comic dialogue; two-person comedy act, usu. presented as a fast-paced dialogue, occ. presented as a skit
- 秀才しゅうさいN1
bright person; talented student; prodigy
- 文才ぶんさい
literary talent
- 英才えいさい
genius; brilliance; unusual talent
- 才覚さいかく
ready wit; quick wits; resourcefulness; talent; acumen; powers; knack
- 多才たさい
talented
- 鬼才きさい
wizard; genius; remarkable talent; exceptional ability
- 才気さいき
wisdom
- 才色兼備さいしょくけんび
(a woman) being gifted with both intelligence and beauty
- 才女さいじょ
talented woman
- 奇才きさい
rare genius
- 商才しょうさい
business ability; business acumen
- 青二才あおにさい
green youth; immature youth; novice; greenhorn
- 才子さいし
talented man; clever man
- 如才じょさい
sloppiness; carelessness; inattention; oversight
- 異才いさい
genius; prodigy; (person of) great talent; remarkable person
- 才人さいじん
talented person; clever person
Study
Etymology
The historical origin of 才 is uncertain. It may have originally depicted a sprout or a marker, but the modern form is highly abstract and its connection to the meanings 'genius' and 'years old' is not clearly established through component analysis.
Meaning mnemonic
The simple three-stroke shape looks like a quick, clever mark—imagine a genius jotting down a brilliant idea with just three swift strokes: 才 is talent.
Reading mnemonic
For サイ, picture a genius sighing with satisfaction after solving a hard problem: sigh -> サイ, and that sigh is the sound of talent at work.