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口才 (kǒu cái) — eloquence, speaking ability

Definition

口才 refers specifically to eloquence — the skill of speaking well in real time. Unlike 才华 or 才能 (broader talent/ability), it is limited to verbal expression.

noun
eloquencespeaking ability

Examples

  • 口才，。
    Tā de kǒu cái fēi cháng hǎo, měi cì yǎn jiǎng dōu hěn jīng cǎi.
    His eloquence is excellent; every speech he gives is wonderful.
  • 口才。
    Zuò xiāo shòu xū yào hěn hǎo de kǒu cái.
    Being a salesperson requires good eloquence.
  • 口才。
    Tā cóng xiǎo jiù kāi shǐ liàn xí kǒu cái.
    He started practicing eloquence from a young age.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

口kǒumouth
才cáitalent

口 (mouth) and 才 (talent) combine to mean ability in speaking.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The form 口 looks like an open mouth.

Open 口 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

才 originally drew a sharp peg, not a sprout growing from the ground.

Open 才 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Communication & Speech

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.