才子 (cái zǐ) — gifted scholar (especially one with literary talent)

Definition

A 才子 is a gifted male scholar, usually with literary or artistic talent — a classic literary archetype often paired with 佳人 ('beauty') in classical tales.

noun
gifted scholar (especially one with literary talent)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 才子，。
    Tā cóng xiǎo jiù shì chū le míng de cái zǐ, shī shū huà yàng yàng jīng tōng.
    He has been well-known as a gifted scholar since childhood, mastering poetry, calligraphy, and painting.
  • 才子，。
    Gǔ dài xiǎo shuō lǐ cháng cháng tí dào cái zǐ jiā rén, zhè shì yí gè jīng diǎn de gù shi zhǔ tí.
    Ancient novels often mention gifted scholars and beautiful women — it's a classic story theme.
  • 才子。
    Zhè wèi cái zǐ xiě guò de wén zhāng zhì jīn réng bèi hòu rén chuán sòng.
    The essays written by this gifted scholar are still recited by later generations today.

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.

才cáitalent
子zǐperson

才子 is a 子 with 才, a man gifted in letters.

Characters in this word

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 →

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

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Open 子 →

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