noun
lack of ability; incompetence; incapacity
A formal, somewhat literary noun for lacking talent or ability. Often used in self-deprecating expressions or to describe someone's inadequacy in a specific area.
自分の非才を恥じる。
I am ashamed of my own lack of ability.
彼は非才ゆえにその仕事を断った。
He declined the job because of his incompetence.
無能 is a more common and direct word for incompetence or inability, often used in everyday contexts, while 非才 is more literary and self-deprecating.
不才 is a near-synonym also meaning lack of talent, but 非才 is slightly more common and may carry a nuance of 'not having the right talent' rather than 'having no talent at all'.
Formed from 非 (hi, 'not') and 才 (sai, 'talent, ability'). The variant 菲才 uses 菲 (hi, 'humble, poor') which reinforces the self-deprecating nuance. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word follows a common Sino-Japanese pattern for abstract nouns.