才能|さいのうsainou[0]heiban (flat)

1. nountalent; ability
   君きみには音楽おんがくの才能さいのうがある。↗

   You have a gift for music.

• Synonym能力のうりょくNeutralAbility to do something, whether innate or acquired; broader and more everyday than 「才能」, which stresses inborn talent.
• Synonym技量ぎりょうNeutralDegree of technical skill or proficiency, as in 「技量が問われる」; about honed skill rather than the inborn gift of 「才能」.
• Synonym能のうWrittenWritten word for talent or function, seen in set phrases like 「能がない」 and 「能ある鷹は爪を隠す」; also means noh theatre. 「才能」 is far more common.
• Synonym素質そしつNeutralInborn qualities or natural foundation, as in 「素質がある」; stresses potential still to be developed, where 「才能」 is the talent itself.
• Synonym実力じつりょくNeutralReal, demonstrable ability, as in 「実力を発揮する」; 「才能」 is innate talent, whether or not it has shown itself yet.
• Synonym腕うでNeutralColloquial word for hands-on skill or knack, as in 「腕がいい」; more concrete than the abstract 「才能」.
• Synonym手腕しゅわんNeutralSkill and resourcefulness in handling affairs, mostly in business or politics; 「才能」 is the broader term for talent.
• Synonym力量りきりょうNeutralThe measure of ability needed to fill a role, as in 「指導者としての力量」; judges whether someone is up to a task.
• Synonym資質ししつNeutralInborn qualities, often used when judging whether someone suits a post; close to 「素質」.
• Synonym腕前うでまえNeutralProficiency in a craft, as in 「料理の腕前」; measures actual skill level rather than innate talent.
• Synonym才さいWrittenWritten word for talent that can stand alone, as in 「語学の才」, and forms compounds like 「多才」; 「才能」 is the everyday choice.
• Synonym才腕さいわんWrittenWritten word for executive talent and resourcefulness, used mostly in politics and business.
• SynonymアビリティーNeutralLoanword for ability, used mostly in business or gaming contexts.
• SynonymケイパビリティNeutralLoanword for the capability or performance of an organization or system; business and IT jargon.
• Synonym才幹さいかんWrittenWritten word for practical, executive talent, mostly in assessments of a person's calibre.
• Synonym才分さいぶんWrittenWritten and rare, covering inborn talent and disposition; stresses what one is born with. In everyday speech, say 「才能」.
• Synonym才力さいりょくWrittenWritten word for talent and ability with an intellectual slant; say 「才能」 in general use.
• Related技術ぎじゅつNeutralTechnique or technology — teachable methods and craft; 「才能」 is a personal, inborn gift.
• RelatedスキルNeutralLoanword for learnable, trainable skills, as in 「スキルアップ」; 「才能」 is what you are born with.
• Related甲斐性かいしょうNeutralThe ability to earn a living and support a household, used of how dependable a man is; has nothing to do with talent.
• Related天資てんしWrittenLiterary word for natural endowment with an old-fashioned air; 「天性」 or 「素質」 are the usual choices.
• Antonym無能むのうNeutralAntonym: incompetence, being no good at anything — the opposite of having 「才能」.

Use 「才能」 for inborn talent. For the ability to get things done, say 「能力」; for real, demonstrable ability, 「実力」; for skill in a craft, 「腕前」; for innate potential, 「素質」; for learnable skills, 「スキル」. The 才- words (「才腕」「才幹」「才力」「才」) and 「天資」 are written-style alternatives, and 「能」 appears mainly in set phrases. 「アビリティー」 and 「ケイパビリティ」 are business or IT loanwords, 「甲斐性」 is about earning a living, and 「無能」 is the antonym.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 物事ものごとを巧たくみに行おこなう、生まれ付うまれつきの能力のうりょく。才知さいちの働はたらき。