庸才

yōngcái

noun #35,664

Meanings

1 mediocrity
2 person of mediocre ability
3 hack

Characters

ordinary, mediocre

talent, ability

Examples

他不甘于做一个庸才。

Tā bù gānyú zuò yī gè yōngcái.

He refuses to settle for being a mediocrity.

公司不需要庸才,需要的是人才。

Gōngsī bù xūyào yōngcái, xūyào de shì réncái.

The company doesn't need hacks, it needs talent.

Tips

usage

Pointed pejorative — 庸 (yōng, ordinary, commonplace) attached to 才 (cái, talent) makes a sarcastic compound: 'common talent' = no talent. Direct antonym is 人才 (réncái, talent/skilled person). Don't apply lightly; 庸才 cuts.

Stroke Order

庸 yōng

才 cái