Chinese word

才能

Pronunciation

Pinyincái néng

Meaning

  • nountalent

Example

她有很大的才能，适合这个工作。tā yǒu hěn dà de cái néng shì hé zhè ge gōng zuò

She has a great talent and is well suited to this job.

Illustration for 才能 (talent)

More examples

他通过训练发挥了才能。tā tōng guò xùn liàn fā huī le cái néng

He put his talent to use through training.

Core concept

A visible strength in a particular field shows what a person can do especially well, whether it comes from natural ability or practice.

Common phrases

  • 有才能yǒu cái néng

    have talent

  • 培养才能péi yǎng cái néng

    cultivate talent

  • 发挥才能fā huī cái néng

    put one's talent to use

Similar words

能力néng lì: General capacity for learning, working, or carrying out tasks.
技能jì néng: A trained ability to perform a particular practical task.
天赋tiān fù: Inborn potential that develops and shows itself naturally.
才华cái huá: Visible creativity and skill in artistic or expressive work.

Definition in Chinese

指个人在某些方面表现出色的能力，可以是天赋也可以是经过培养后显现的潜力。zhǐ gè rén zài mǒu xiē fāng miàn biǎo xiàn chū sè de néng lì ké yǐ shì tiān fù yě ké yǐ shì jīng guò péi yǎng hòu xiǎn xiàn de qián lì

Word origin

才 (cái, "aptitude") + 能 (néng, "ability") combines an inborn quality with the power to do something, giving the word its sense of notable personal capacity.

Usage tips

  • English talent can sound mainly inborn, but this Chinese noun also comfortably covers a strength that training has developed.

Other meanings

  • abilitynoun

Word lists with this word