talented and intelligent; brilliant person
Describes a person of exceptional talent and intelligence. Can refer to the quality itself or to a person possessing it. Somewhat literary and not an everyday word.
He was renowned as a brilliant talent from a young age.
The scholar was praised as a true genius.
天才 means 'genius' and is the most common term for exceptional innate ability. 才英 is rarer and carries a classical, elegant nuance.
Standard kanji form for this word.
Variant kanji form using 穎 (a rare character for 'intelligent'); less common than 才英.
Compound of 才 (talent, ability) and 英 (excellent, outstanding). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the combination conveys exceptional talent and intelligence.