不才

Chinese

		not; no	ability; talent; endowment ability; talent; endowment; gift; an expert; only (then); only if; just
simp. and trad. (不才)		不	才
Literally: “not-talented [person]”.

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): bùcái

  (Zhuyin): ㄅㄨˋ ㄘㄞˊ

• Cantonese (Jyutping): bat¹ coi⁴
• Southern Min (Hokkien, POJ): put-châi

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: bùcái
    • Zhuyin: ㄅㄨˋ ㄘㄞˊ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: bùcái
    • Wade–Giles: pu⁴-tsʻai²
    • Yale: bù-tsái
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: butsair
    • Palladius: буцай (bucaj)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /pu⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)⁺
    • Jyutping: bat¹ coi⁴
    • Yale: bāt chòih
    • Cantonese Pinyin: bat⁷ tsoi⁴
    • Guangdong Romanization: bed¹ coi⁴
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹/
• Southern Min
  • (Hokkien)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: put-châi
    • Tâi-lô: put-tsâi
    • Phofsit Daibuun: putzaai
    • IPA (Xiamen): /put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai²⁴/
    • IPA (Quanzhou): /put̚⁵⁻²⁴ t͡sai²⁴/
    • IPA (Zhangzhou): /put̚³²⁻⁵ t͡sai¹³/
    • IPA (Taipei): /put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai²⁴/
    • IPA (Kaohsiung): /put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai²³/

Adjective

不才

1. (humble) without talent

   小弟不才，還需向各位多多請教！ [MSC, trad.]
   小弟不才，还需向各位多多请教！ [MSC, simp.]

   Xiǎodì bùcái, hái xū xiàng gèwèi duōduō qǐngjiào! [Pinyin]

   I'm not talented and need to learn from you.

Pronoun

不才

1. (literary, humble) I; me

   • 至以「上下相孚，才德稱位」語不才，則不才有深感焉。夫才德不稱，固自知之矣；至於不孚之病，則尤不才為甚。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     至以「上下相孚，才德称位」语不才，则不才有深感焉。夫才德不称，固自知之矣；至于不孚之病，则尤不才为甚。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: c. middle 16th century, Zong Chen（宗臣）,《報劉一丈書》, translated into English as Flunkeyism by H. A. Giles.

     Zhì yǐ “shàngxià xiāng fú, cáidé chèn wèi” yù bùcái, zé bùcái yǒu shēngǎn yān. Fú cáidé bùchèn, gù zìzhī zhī yǐ; zhìyú bùfú zhī bìng, zé yóu bùcái wéishèn. [Pinyin]

     As to what you are pleased to say in reference to official popularity and fitness for office, I am much obliged by your remarks. Of my unfitness I am only too well aware; while as to popularity with my superiors, I am utterly unqualified to secure that boon.

Synonyms

Dialectal synonyms of 我 (“I”) [map]

Variety	Location	Words edit
Classical Chinese		吾, 我, 余, 予, 台, 朕 for emperors, 臣, 愚 humble
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)		我, 本人, 鄙人 humble, 在下 humble, 不才 humble
Northeastern Mandarin	Beijing	我
	Taiwan	我
	Langfang	我
	Chengde	我
	Ulanhot	我
	Tongliao	我
	Chifeng	我, 咱
	Hulunbuir (Hailar)	我
	Heihe	我, 俺
	Qiqihar	我, 俺
	Harbin	我, 俺
	Jiamusi	我, 俺, 咱
	Baicheng	我
	Changchun	我
	Tonghua	我, 咱
	Shenyang	我
	Jinzhou	我
	Malaysia	我
	Singapore	我
	Olginsky (Mikhaylovka)	我
Jilu Mandarin	Tianjin	我
	Tangshan	我
	Cangzhou	我, 俺
	Baoding	我
	Shijiazhuang	我, 俺
	Lijin	我, 俺
	Weifang (Weicheng)	我, 俺
	Weifang (Fangzi)	我, 俺
	Changle	我, 俺
	Shouguang	我, 俺
	Rizhao	我, 俺
	Wulian	我, 俺
	Jinan	我, 俺
Jiaoliao Mandarin	Dalian	我
	Dandong	我, 俺
	Yantai	我, 俺
	Yantai (Muping)	我, 俺
	Qingdao	我, 俺
	Weifang (Hanting)	我, 俺
	Changyi	我, 俺
	Gaomi	我, 俺
	Zhucheng	我, 俺
	Anqiu	我, 俺
	Linqu	我, 俺
	Qingzhou	俺
Central Plains Mandarin	Luoyang	我, 俺
	Lingbao	我
	Jining	我, 俺
	Wanrong	我, 俺
	Linfen	我
	Shangqiu	我, 俺
	Yuanyang	我, 俺
	Zhengzhou	我, 俺
	Kaifeng	我, 俺
	Xinyang	我
	Ankang	我
	Baihe	我
	Xi'an	我, 俺 †
	Baoji	我
	Tongxin	我
	Guyuan	我
	Tianshui	我
	Xining	我
	Yanqi	我
	Xuzhou	我, 俺, 咱
	Xuzhou (Jiawang)	俺, 我
	Pizhou	俺, 我
	Suining	我
	Xinyi	我, 俺
	Fengxian	我, 俺
	Suqian	俺
	Lianyungang (Ganyu)	我, 俺
	Donghai	我, 俺
	Fuyang	我, 俺
	Bengbu	我, 俺
	Sokuluk (Gansu Dungan)	我
Lanyin Mandarin	Yinchuan	我
	Zhongwei	我
	Lanzhou	我
	Dunhuang	我
	Hami	我
	Ürümqi	我
Southwestern Mandarin	Chengdu	我
	Chengdu (Xindu)	我
	Nanchong	我
	Nanbu	我
	Dazhou	我
	Hanyuan	我
	Xichang	我
	Zigong	我
	Chongqing	我
	Wuhan	我
	Yichang	我
	Xiangyang	我
	Tianmen	我
	Lhasa	我
	Guiyang	我
	Zunyi	我
	Bijie	我
	Liping	我
	Zhaotong	我
	Dali	我
	Kunming	我
	Mengzi	我
	Guilin	我
	Guilin (Lingui)	我
	Guanyang	我
	Lipu	我
	Pingle	我
	Yangshuo	我
	Liuzhou	我
	Nanning (Xiakuojie)	我
	Nanning (Fujian)	我
	Nanning (Wuming)	我
	Nanning (Fucheng, Wuming)	我
	Binyang (Nanjie)	我
	Shanglin (Sanli)	我
	Hechi (Yizhou)	我
	Jishou	我
	Changde	我, 頑, 俺
	Xiangtan (Jiangnan Industries Group koine)	我
	Ziyang	我
	Hanzhong	我
	Dagudi (Maliba)	我
	Reshuitang (Longling)	我
	Mae Salong (Lancang)	我
	Mae Sai (Tengchong)	我
Jianghuai Mandarin	Nanjing	我
	Yangzhou	我
	Yangzhou (Jiangdu)	我
	Baoying	我
	Gaoyou	我
	Yizheng	我
	Taizhou	我
	Taixing	我
	Taizhou (Jiangyan)	我
	Jingjiang (Dongxing)	我
	Zhenjiang	我
	Jurong	我
	Lianyungang	我, 俺
	Guanyun	我
	Guannan	我, 呣
	Huai'an (Huaiyin)	我
	Huai'an (Hongze)	我
	Lianshui	我
	Xuyi	我
	Jinhu	我
	Xinghua	我
	Nantong	我
	Rugao	我
	Rudong	我
	Hai'an	我
	Yancheng	我
	Dongtai	我
	Sheyang	我
	Funing	我
	Jianhu	我
	Xiangshui	我
	Shuyang	我
	Sihong	我, 俺
	Anqing	我
	Wuhu	我
	Hefei	我
	Chuzhou	我
	Huanggang	我
	Hong'an	我
Mandarin	Qinzhou (Longmengang)	我
Cantonese	Guangzhou	我
	Hong Kong	我
	Hong Kong (Kam Tin Weitou)	我
	Macau	我
	Guangzhou (Panyu)	我
	Guangzhou (Huashan, Huadu)	我
	Guangzhou (Conghua)	我
	Guangzhou (Zengcheng)	我
	Foshan	我
	Foshan (Shatou, Nanhai)	我
	Foshan (Shunde)	我
	Foshan (Sanshui)	我
	Foshan (Mingcheng, Gaoming)	我
	Zhongshan (Shiqi)	我
	Zhongshan (Huancheng)	我
	Zhongshan (Nanlang)	我
	Zhongshan (Xiaolan)	我
	Zhongshan (Dongsheng, Xiaolan)	我
	Zhongshan (Tanbei, Xiaolan)	我
	Zhongshan (Henglan)	我
	Zhongshan (Dongfeng)	我
	Zhongshan (Nantou)	我
	Zhongshan (Fusha)	我
	Zhongshan (Shalang)	我
	Zhongshan (Gangkou)	我
	Zhongshan (Huangpu)	我
	Zhongshan (Sanjiao)	我
	Zhongshan (Langwang, Minzhong)	我
	Zhongshan (Minzhong)	我
	Zhongshan (Guzhen)	我
	Zhongshan (Banfu)	我
	Zhongshan (Tanzhou)	我
	Zhuhai (Qianshan, Xiangzhou)	我
	Zhuhai (Shangheng, Doumen; Tanka)	我
	Zhuhai (Doumen)	我
	Jiangmen (Baisha)	𠊎
	Jiangmen (Xinhui)	我
	Taishan	我
	Kaiping (Chikan)	我
	Enping (Niujiang)	我
	Heshan (Yayao)	我
	Dongguan	我
	Shenzhen (Shajing, Bao'an)	我
	Shenzhen (Dapeng)	我
	Qingyuan	我
	Fogang	我
	Yingde (Hanguang)	我
	Yangshan	我
	Lianshan (Butian)	我
	Lianzhou (Qingshui Sihui)	我
	Shaoguan	我
	Shaoguan (Qujiang)	我
	Renhua	我
	Lechang	我
	Zhaoqing (Gaoyao)	我
	Sihui	我
	Guangning	我
	Deqing	我
	Huaiji	我
	Fengkai (Nanfeng)	儂
	Yunfu	我, 儂
	Xinxing	我
	Luoding	我
	Yunan (Pingtai)	我
Yangjiang	我
Xinyi	我
Maoming (Xinpo)	我
Lianjiang	我
Wuchuan (Wuyang)	我
Nanning	我
Wuzhou	我
Yulin	我
Hepu (Lianzhou)	我
Hepu (Shatian)	我
Guiping	我
Mengshan (Xihe)	我
Guigang (Nanjiang)	我
Beiliu	我
Baise	我
Bobai	我
Lingshan	我
Pubei	我
Qinzhou	我
Beihai	我
Beihai (Qiaogang - Cô Tô)	我
Beihai (Qiaogang - Cát Bà)	我
Ningming	我
Hengzhou	我
Hezhou (Pumen, Babu)	儂
Fangchenggang (Fangcheng)	我
Danzhou	我
Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu)	我
Penang (Guangfu)	我
Singapore (Guangfu)	我
Ho Chi Minh City (Guangfu)	我
Móng Cái	我
Gan	Nanchang	我
	Nanchang (Wangcheng)	我
	Anyi	我仂
	Lushan	我
	Pengze	我
	Duchang	我, 我濃
	Wuning (Quankou)	我
	Poyang	我
	Yugan	阿, 我郎
	Wannian	阿
	Hengfeng	阿, 阿仂
	Yanshan	阿, 阿仂
	Leping	阿
	Yichun	我
	Yifeng	阿
	Gao'an	我
	Fengxin	我
	Shanggao	我
	Wanzai	我
	Fengcheng	我
	Xinyu	阿, 我
	Fuzhou (Shangdundu)	我
	Fuzhou (Dongxiang)	阿仂
	Nancheng	阿
	Nanfeng	阿仂, 阿
	Yihuang	我
	Lichuan	我, 阿
	Chongren	我
	Pingxiang	巷
	Lianhua	我
	Ji'an	阿, 我
	Yongfeng	我
	Taihe	我
	Xiajiang	我
	Yongxin	我
	Yingtan (Yujiang)	阿
	Guixi	阿, 阿仂
	Jianning	我
	Jinxian	我
	Jinxi	阿
	Le'an	我
	Guangchang	阿
	Anfu	我
	Suichuan	𠊎
	Wan'an	𠊎
	Jing'an	我
	Zhangshu	我
	Xingan	我
	Fenyi	我
Hakka	Meixian	𠊎
	Xingning	𠊎
	Huizhou (Huicheng Bendihua)	我
	Huizhou (Shuikou Bendihua)	我
	Huizhou (Hengli Bendihua)	我
	Huiyang	𠊎
	Huidong (Pingshan Bendihua)	我
	Huidong (Daling)	𠊎
	Dongguan (Qingxi)	𠊎
	Longmen (Pingling Bendihua)	我
	Longmen (Luxi Bendihua)	我
	Boluo (Bendihua)	我
	Shenzhen (Shatoujiao)	𠊎
	Zengcheng (Zhengguo)	𠊎
	Zhongshan (Wuguishan)	𠊎
	Zhongshan (Nanlang Heshui)	𠊎
	Wuhua (Shuizhai)	𠊎
	Wuhua (Huacheng)	𠊎
	Wuhua (Changbu)	𠊎
	Wuhua (Mianyang)	𠊎
	Wuhua (Meilin)	𠊎
	Heyuan (Bendihua)	我
	Zijin	我
	Zijin (Guzhu Bendihua)	我
	Longchuan (Tuocheng Bendihua)	我
	Longchuan (Sidu Bendihua)	我
	Heping (Linzhai Bendihua)	我
	Lianping (Zhongxin Bendihua)	我
	Lianping (Longjie Bendihua)	我
	Wengyuan	𠊎
	Nanxiong (Zhuji)	𠊎
	Shaoguan (Qujiang)	𠊎
	Xinfeng (Matou Bendihua)	我
	Xinfeng (Daxi Bendihua)	我
	Lianshan (Xiaosanjiang)	𠊎
	Liannan	𠊎
	Guangzhou (Lütian, Conghua)	𠊎
	Jiexi	𠊎
	Luhe	𠊎
	Zhao'an (Xiuzhuan)	𠊎
	Changting	𠊎
	Shanghang	𠊎
	Longyan (Yongding)	𠊎
	Wuping	𠊎
	Wuping (Yanqian)	𠊎
	Wuping (Pingyu)	𠊎
	Liancheng	𠊎
	Ninghua	𠊎
	Qingliu	𠊎
	Yudu	𠊎
	Ningdu	𠊎
	Ruijin	𠊎
	Shicheng	𠊎
	Shangyou (Shexi)	𠊎
	Tonggu (Sandu)	𠊎
	Ganzhou (Panlong)	𠊎
	Ganzhou (Nankang)	𠊎
	Dayu	𠊎
	Dingnan	𠊎
	Longnan	𠊎
	Xunwu	𠊎
	Huichang	𠊎
	Chongyi	𠊎
	Xingguo	𠊎
Miaoli (N. Sixian)	𠊎
Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian)	𠊎
Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu)	𠊎
Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu)	𠊎
Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping)	𠊎
Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an)	𠊎
Hong Kong	𠊎
Yangxi (Tangkou)	𠊎
Yangchun (Sanjia)	𠊎
Xinyi (Sihe)	𠊎
Xinyi (Qianpai)	𠊎
Gaozhou (Xindong)	𠊎
Maoming (Shalang, Dianbai)	𠊎
Huazhou (Xin'an)	𠊎
Lianjiang (Shijiao)	𠊎
Lianjiang (Qingping)	𠊎
Mengshan (Xihe)	𠊎
Luchuan	𠊎
Luchuan (Daqiao)	𠊎
Bobai (Shahe)	𠊎
Bobai (Longtan)	𠊎
Bobai (Lingping)	𠊎
Bobai (Lingjiao)	𠊎
Beiliu (Tang'an)	𠊎
Mashan (Pianlian)	我
Sabah (Longchuan)	𠊎, 我
Senai (Huiyang)	𠊎
Sungai Tapang, Batu Kawa (Hepo)	𠊎
Singkawang	𠊎
Singapore (Dabu)	𠊎
Bangkok (Meixian)	𠊎
Huizhou	Jixi	我
	Shexian	我, 阿
	Wuyuan	我
	Fuliang	我
	Dexing	我
	Chun'an (Qiandaohu)	我
	Jiande (Meicheng)	黨, 卬
	Jiande (Shouchang)	我, 我儂
Jin	Taiyuan	我, 俺 †, used only by females
	Yangyuan	我, 俺
	Datong	我
	Xinzhou	我, 俺
	Lüliang (Lishi)	我, 俺
	Changzhi	我
	Linhe	我
	Jining	我, 俺
	Hohhot	我, 俺
	Erenhot	我, 俺
	Pingshan	我, 俺
	Zhangjiakou	我
	Handan	我, 俺
	Linzhou	我, 俺
	Suide	我
Northern Min	Jian'ou	我, 俺
	Songxi	我
	Zhenghe	我
	Jianyang	我
Eastern Min	Fuzhou	我, 奴
	Fuzhou (Changle)	我
	Lianjiang	我
	Fuqing	我
	Pingtan	我
	Yongtai	我
	Minqing	我
	Gutian	我
	Pingnan	我
	Luoyuan	我
	Fu'an	我
	Ningde	我
	Xiapu	我
	Zherong	我
	Shouning	我
	Zhouning	我
	Fuding	我
	Taishun	我
	Cangnan	我
	Singapore (Fuqing)	我
	Sitiawan (Gutian)	我
Southern Min	Xiamen	我, 阮, 遮人, 遮的人
	Xiamen (Tong'an)	我
	Quanzhou	我, 阮
	Jinjiang	我
	Nan'an	我
	Shishi	我
	Hui'an	我
	Anxi	我
	Yongchun	我
	Dehua	我
	Zhangzhou	我, 阮, 遮人, 遮的人
	Zhangzhou (Longhai)	我
	Zhangzhou (Changtai)	我
	Hua'an	我
	Nanjing	我
	Pinghe	我
	Zhangpu	我
	Yunxiao	我
	Zhao'an	我
	Dongshan	我
	Taipei	我, 阮 GT
	Taipei (Wanhua)	我
	New Taipei (Tamsui)	我
	New Taipei (Sanxia)	我
	New Taipei (Pingxi)	我
	Kaohsiung	我
	Kaohsiung (Cijin)	我
	Kaohsiung (Hongmaogang, Siaogang)	我
	Kaohsiung (Dalinpu, Siaogang)	我
	Yilan	我
	Changhua (Lukang)	我
	Taichung	我
	Taichung (Wuqi)	我
	Tainan	我
	Taitung	我
	Hsinchu	我
	Kinmen	我
	Penghu (Magong)	我
	Penang (Hokkien)	我
	Singapore (Hokkien)	我
	Manila (Hokkien)	我
	Longyan	我
	Zhangping	我
	Datian	我
	Shunchang (Pushang)	我
	Pingnan (Shangdu)	我
	Guilin (Biyange)	我
	Cangnan	我
	Chaozhou	我
	Shantou	我
	Shantou (Chenghai)	我
	Shantou (Chaoyang)	我
	Jieyang	我
	Haifeng	我
	Johor Bahru (Teochew)	我
	Singapore (Teochew)	我
	Batam (Teochew)	我
	Pontianak (Teochew)	我
	Wenchang	我, 儂 polite/humble
	Haikou	我
	Singapore (Hainanese)	我, 儂 polite/humble
Puxian Min	Putian	我
	Putian (Donghai, Chengxiang)	我
	Putian (Jiangkou, Hanjiang)	我
	Putian (Nanri, Xiuyu)	我
	Xianyou	我
	Xianyou (Fengting)	我
	Xianyou (Youyang)	我
Central Min	Yong'an	我
	Sanming (Shaxian)	我
	Nanping (Wangtai, Yanping)	我
Shaojiang Min	Shaowu	伉
	Guangze	伉
	Jiangle	我
	Mingxi	我
Southern Pinghua	Nanning (Tingzi)	我
Northern Pinghua	Guilin (Dahe)	我
Shehua	Jingning (Hexi)	我
Waxiang	Guzhang (Gaofeng)	我
	Yuanling (Shaojiwan)	吾
Wu	Shanghai	我, 阿拉
	Shanghai (Songjiang)	我儂
	Shanghai (Jiading)	唔, 唔儂
	Shanghai (Chongming)	我
	Suzhou	我, 奴
	Suzhou (Shengze, Wujiang)	吾, 吾奴
	Wuxi	我
	Changshu	我
	Nantong (Haimen)	我
	Jiaxing	我奴
	Jiashan	我奴, 我
	Pinghu	我奴, 我
	Haining (Yanguan)	我
	Tongxiang	我
	Haiyan	我, 活儂, 活奴
	Changzhou	我
	Danyang	我
	Nanjing (Gaochun)	我
	Huzhou	是我
	Changxing	我, 是我
	Anji	我
	Deqing	我
	Hangzhou	我
	Hangzhou (Yuhang)	我, 是我
	Hangzhou (Lin'an)	我, 是我, 什我
	Hangzhou (Fuyang)	我, 是我
	Hangzhou (Xiaoshan)	我
	Tonglu	我, 是我
	Tonglu (Wusheng)	我
	Shaoxing	我
	Zhuji	我
	Shengzhou	我
	Xinchang	我
	Ningbo	我, 我儂, 像我
	Ningbo (Zhenhai)	我
	Ningbo (Fenghua)	我
	Yuyao	我
	Cixi	我
	Xiangshan	我, 像我
	Zhoushan	伢
	Taizhou (Huangyan)	我
	Tiantai	我
	Xianju	我
	Sanmen	我
	Linhai	我
	Wenling	我俚
	Wenzhou	我
	Yueqing	我
	Yongjia (Fenglin)	我
	Rui'an	我
	Pingyang	我
	Taishun	我
	Wencheng	我
	Lishui	我
	Qingtian	我
	Jinyun	我, 動我
	Wuyi (Liucheng)	我
	Songyang (Xiping)	我
	Yunhe	我
	Jingning	我
	Qingyuan	我
	Longquan	我
	Quzhou	我
	Suichang	我, 我儂
Jiangshan	我
Changshan	我
Kaihua	我, 我儂
Longyou	我, 我儂
Jinhua	我, 我儂
Jinhua (Tangxi)	我, 我儂
Yiwu	我
Yongkang	我
Pujiang	我
Dongyang	我
Wuyi	我, 我儂
Lanxi	我, 我儂
Shangrao	阿儂
Shangrao (Guangfeng)	阿
Yushan	阿, 儂
Xiang	Changsha	我
	Loudi	我
	Shuangfeng	我, 卬
	Hengyang	我
	Quanzhou	我
Xiangnan Tuhua	Jiangyong	我
Note	† - as an attributive, used without 的; GT - General Taiwanese (no specific region identified)