天才(てんさい)

てんさい
noun
genius; prodigy
1. genius; prodigy
A person with exceptional natural ability or intelligence.
彼(かれ)は天才(てんさい)だ。
He is a genius.
音楽(おんがく)の天才(てんさい)です。
He/She is a musical genius.
天才(てんさい)は努力(どりょく)も大切(たいせつ)だと言(い)う。
They say that even geniuses value hard work.

天才(てんさい) refers to extraordinary natural talent or a person possessing such talent — a genius or prodigy.

WORD FORMATION:
天(てん) (heaven) + 才(さい) (talent). Literally "heavenly talent" — ability granted by nature rather than effort.

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • 天才(てんさい)的(てき): genius-like, brilliant
  • 天才(てんさい)児(じ): child prodigy
  • 天才(てんさい)肌(はだ): having a genius temperament

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 天才(てんさい): genius (innate, exceptional talent)
  • 秀才(しゅうさい): talented person (through hard work and intelligence)
  • 鬼才(きさい): extraordinary talent, maverick genius
  • 才能(さいのう): talent, ability (general term)

NOTE:
The distinction between 天才(てんさい) (innate genius) and 秀才(しゅうさい) (brilliant through effort) is important in Japanese culture.

general
Added 2026.2.4 19:52 · Revised 2026.3.27 18:57
09500/09934_tensai