才思 (cái sī) — creative talent; imaginative power (in writing or art)

Definition

A literary, written-style noun for 'creative/imaginative power' in writing or art — about the spark of inspiration itself, not skill (which is 才能).

noun
creative talentimaginative power (in writing or art)

Examples

  • 才思，。
    Zhè wèi zuò jiā cái sī mǐn jié, zuò pǐn shēn shòu dú zhě xǐ ài.
    This writer is quick-witted and creative, and his works are deeply loved by readers.
  • 才思，。
    Tā cóng xiǎo cái sī chū zhòng, huà le hěn duō piào liang de huà.
    He has had outstanding creative talent since childhood and has painted many beautiful pictures.
  • 才思。
    Tā de cái sī zài shī gē zhōng dé dào le chōng fèn zhǎn xiàn.
    Her imaginative power is fully displayed in her poetry.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

才cáitalent
思sīthought

才 (talent) and 思 (thought) give creative thought.

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 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
囟
囟xìn思sī
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 思, 心 (heart) points to thinking, while the top part is a changed form of 囟, which supplied the sound.

Open 思 →

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