屈才 (qū cái) literally combines 屈 (qū), meaning 'to bend', 'to suppress', or 'to waste', and 才 (cái), meaning 'talent' or 'ability'. Together, the term describes a situation where someone’s skills, experience, or qualifications are underutilized—such as when a highly educated person takes on menial work or a senior professional is assigned tasks far below their expertise. It carries a tone of regret or injustice, implying the person is being held back or undervalued.

This word is commonly used in workplace, academic, or career-related discussions—especially when advising others, evaluating job placements, or expressing concern about mismatched roles. It’s not a neutral descriptor; it implies criticism of the system or decision-maker responsible for the misalignment. While often used as a noun ('a case of qū cái'), it can also function adjectivally in phrases like 屈才的安排 (a talent-wasting arrangement).