八斗才

八斗才:

Literally means:

superb talent.

Actually means:

It has the same meaning as 才高八斗. When speaking of Cao zhi, the author of Poem Written While Taking Seven Paces, the famous ancient poet Xie Lingyun said," if the amount of literature talent totaled one shi, Cao Zhi could account for 8 dou".

Therefore, caigaobadou or badoucai is used to describe a person who has unusual talent in literature.

Both 石 and 斗 are capacity units: one 石 equals ten dou, and one 斗 is ten 升.

This phrase means being very talented. It carries a commendatory sense.

“才高八斗”的另一种说法。古代著名诗人谢灵 运称赞《七步诗》作者曹植时说，

天下的文才加 在一起算做一石，曹植就占了八斗。

后来便用 “才高八斗”或“八斗才”来形容文才极其出众。

“石”（读 dan4）和“斗”都是容量单位，一石等于十斗，一斗等于十升。

八斗才，指才能极高。它具有褒义色彩。