talent

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 才 has 3 strokes and the on-reading さい. 才能 (さいのう) and 天才 (てんさい) refer to talent and a person with exceptional talent.
• Basic usage: 才能 names an ability or gift; 天才 names a genius with exceptional ability.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• An ability and the person who has it
  • 物語を作る豊かな才能 means a rich talent for creating stories. 才能を伸ばす describes developing a young athlete's talent.
  • 数学の天才と呼ばれた means was called a mathematical genius. 単に天才と片づけたくない expresses not wanting to dismiss a hardworking person as simply a genius.