鬼才|きさいkisai[0]heiban (flat)

1. nounwizard; genius; remarkable talent; exceptional ability

• Synonym逸材いつざいWrittenWritten/formal prose. An outstanding person, often used of promising newcomers as in 「期待の逸材」; it lacks 「鬼才」's distinctive edge.
• Synonym秀才しゅうさいNeutralNeutral. A bright, studious person with excellent learning and talent; very different from 「鬼才」, which points to out-of-the-ordinary, unique ability.
• Synonym俊英しゅんえいWrittenWritten/formal prose. An outstanding person, typically young and accomplished; it does not stress the distinctive sharpness of 「鬼才」.
• Synonym天才てんさいNeutralNeutral and the most general word: innate, extraordinary ability or its holder. 「鬼才」 leans toward unusual talent in creative fields.
• Synonym英才えいさいWrittenWritten/formal prose. Excellent talent or its holder, familiar from 「英才教育」; more conventional than 「鬼才」, without its out-of-the-ordinary edge.
• Synonym英俊えいしゅんWrittenWritten/formal prose, uncommon; exceptionally brilliant talent or a person of it. In Japanese it never refers to looks, despite what the characters may suggest.
• Synonym異才いさいWrittenWritten/formal prose. An uncommon word for unusual, distinctive talent; close to 「鬼才」, which stresses sharper, almost superhuman brilliance.
• Synonym奇才きさいNeutralNeutral. A rare, exceptional talent or person, stressing rarity; 「鬼才」 emphasizes almost superhuman sharpness and originality.
• Related俊才しゅんさいWrittenWritten/formal prose. A person of outstanding intelligence, with a positive, bright nuance; unlike 「鬼才」 it does not stress being out of the ordinary.
• Related俊秀しゅんしゅうWrittenWritten/formal prose. Uncommon; praises outstanding talent and can also work as a na-adjective to evaluate people; lacks 「鬼才」's otherworldly edge.
• Related俊逸しゅんいつWrittenWritten/formal prose and very rare; exceptional talent or its holder. In everyday speech say 「天才」; 「鬼才」 stresses unusually sharp talent.
• Related大才たいさいNeutralNeutral but uncommon; great talent and broad capacity, or a person with them. 「鬼才」 stresses talent so sharp it seems almost inhuman.
• Related能才のうさいNeutralNeutral but rare; a capable, competent person, judged in plain terms; unlike 「鬼才」, no suggestion of otherworldly, unique talent.
• Antonym凡才ぼんさいWrittenWritten/formal prose. Ordinary, run-of-the-mill talent or a person of merely average ability — the direct opposite of 「鬼才」.

For innate genius in general, say 「天才」. Use 「鬼才」 for sharp, out-of-the-ordinary talent in art and creative fields, as in 「映画界の鬼才」. For a promising newcomer, 「逸材」 fits; most other 〜才 and 俊〜 words are written-style terms for outstanding talent, while 「凡才」 is the antonym for mediocrity.

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

1. 人間にんげん離はなれした鋭するどい才能さいのう。また、そのような才能さいのうの持ち主もちぬし。
2. 《中国史ちゅうごくし、漢文かんぶん》［原義げんぎ］　唐代とうだい中国ちゅうごくの詩人しじん・李賀りがの雅称がしょう。