天才 (tiān cái) literally means 'heavenly talent' — combining 天 (tiān, 'heaven' or 'natural, innate') and 才 (cái, 'talent' or 'ability'). It refers to a person with exceptional natural ability in a particular field, such as music, mathematics, or language — not just someone who works hard. Unlike the English word 'genius', which can sometimes describe extraordinary intellectual capacity alone, 天才 emphasizes an inborn, almost effortless aptitude that stands out early in life.

The term carries positive connotations but is used more sparingly in Chinese than 'genius' in English; calling someone 天才 may sound overly complimentary or even slightly exaggerated in casual contexts. It’s common in educational, artistic, or media discussions — for example, describing child prodigies or celebrated innovators. While it can occasionally be used playfully among friends ('You’re a genius at cooking!'), it’s generally reserved for genuinely remarkable ability.