鬼き才さい

き

さ

い

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

genius; wizard; exceptional talent

Refers to a person with extraordinary, almost supernatural talent, especially in creative or intellectual fields. Often used in praise of artists, writers, or innovators. Compare 奇才, which emphasizes unusual or eccentric genius.

Usage patterns

〈人ひと〉は鬼き才さいと呼よばれるto be called a genius
彼かれは映えい画が界かいの鬼き才さいと呼よばれている。
He is called a genius of the film world.
〈事こと〉の鬼き才さいa genius in a particular field
彼かの女じょは音おん楽がくの鬼き才さいとして知しられている。
She is known as a musical genius.

Kanji

鬼ghost, devil
才genius, years old, cubic shaku

Related words

天てん才さいN2
天才 is the general, everyday word for 'genius', while 鬼才 suggests a sharper, more startling, even unsettling brilliance often tied to creative work.
逸いつ材ざいN1
逸材 describes a person of exceptional promise or ability in general (e.g. sports, business), while 鬼才 is reserved for near-supernatural creative or intellectual genius.
秀しゅう才さいN1
秀才 describes someone academically brilliant and hardworking, whereas 鬼才 implies a wilder, more instinctive or eccentric kind of genius.

Don't confuse with

奇き才さい
奇才 and 鬼才 are both pronounced きさい and both mean 'rare genius', but 奇才 stresses unusual or eccentric talent while 鬼才 stresses an almost demonic intensity of brilliance.

Etymology

Composed of 鬼 (demon, ogre) and 才 (talent, ability). The combination suggests a talent so extraordinary it seems inhuman or supernatural. The exact historical origin is uncertain, but the term has been used since at least the Edo period to describe prodigious ability.