才干

cái gàn

ability

他很有才干。

He is very capable.

formal

Ability, talent, or capacity to accomplish tasks; competence.

她的才干使她在公司里迅速晋升。

Her ability helped her rise quickly in the company.

Often used with 有 (have) or 缺乏 (lack). Common in written or formal speech.

Collocations

有才干to be capable缺乏才干to lack ability

insufficient ability

When describing someone’s capability, use 有才干 (yǒu cáigàn) rather than just 才干 alone.

Do not mistake 才干 as a verb; it is a noun meaning ability. The verb 干 means 'to do' and is unrelated here.

Combines 才 (talent, ability) and 干 (to do, to manage). Historically used to denote one's capacity to act.

Primarily appears in formal contexts; rarely used in casual conversation. Usually paired with modifiers like 有, 缺乏, or in set phrases such as 有才干的人.

才

talent, ability

root

干

to do, to manage

root

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