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全才 (quán cái) — all-rounder

Definition

A person who is skilled across many fields — 'all-rounder' or 'versatile talent'. Carries a stronger sense of innate talent than just being well-rounded.

noun
all-rounder
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 全才，。
    Tā zhēn shì gè quán cái, shén me dōu huì zuò.
    He's truly an all-rounder — he can do anything.
  • 全才，。
    Zuò wéi yí gè quán cái, tā zài gōng sī lǐ hěn shòu huān yíng.
    As an all-rounder, he is very popular in the company.
  • 全才，。
    Zhè ge quán cái bù jǐn huì chàng gē, hái huì tiào wǔ.
    This all-rounder can not only sing but also dance.

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.

全quánwhole
才cáitalent

全 means whole or all, and 才 means talent, so the sense is someone with all-around talent.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The shape puts 入 together with 玉 to show a whole piece of jade, so it means complete or whole.

Open 全 →

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
Personality & Traits

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