才さい英えい

Meanings

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.

彼かれは若わかくして才さい英えいの誉ほまれ高だかかった。
He was renowned as a brilliant talent from a young age.
その学がく者しゃは真しんの才さい英えいと称たたえられた。
The scholar was praised as a true genius.

Kanji

才genius, years old, cubic shaku
英England, English, hero
穎heads of grain, cleverness

Related words

秀しゅう才さい
秀才 is a more common word for a person of outstanding ability, often used in academic contexts. 才英 is more literary and emphasizes both talent and intelligence.
天てん才さい
天才 means 'genius' and is the most common term for exceptional innate ability. 才英 is rarer and carries a classical, elegant nuance.

Written forms

才さい英えい
Standard kanji form for this word.
才さい穎えいUsage100%
Variant kanji form using 穎 (a rare character for 'intelligent'); less common than 才英.

Etymology

Compound of 才 (talent, ability) and 英 (excellent, outstanding). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the combination conveys exceptional talent and intelligence.