逸材

• 読み: いつざい
• ローマ字: itsuzai
• 漢字の分解: 逸 (outstanding/extraordinary) + 材 (talent/material) → exceptional talent, rare find
• 発音: /i.tsu.za.i/

意味

Exceptional talent — a one-of-a-kind person whose abilities are outstanding and rare.

A formal-sounding word that packs a punch in casual contexts. 逸材 implies not just skill but rarity — this person is an extraordinary find. Often used in sports scouting, talent discussions, and fan culture with phrases like '10年に一人の逸材' (a talent that comes along once in a decade). Its slightly literary feel makes it a weighty, serious compliment.

例文

1. こんな逸材が同じ会社にいるなんて。
2. あの子は間違いなく逸材だよ。
3. 10年に一人の逸材って言われてるらしい。

使い方ガイド

場面: sports, social media, workplace, fan culture

トーン: evaluative, impressed

正しい言い方

• あの新人は逸材だよ、将来が楽しみ。 (That rookie is an exceptional talent — their future is exciting.)
• 逸材揃いのチームだね。 (It's a team full of exceptional talent.)

避ける言い方

• 本人に「逸材ですね」は堅すぎる場合がある (Saying 'itsuzai desu ne' directly can sound overly formal or evaluative)

よくある間違い

• Mispronouncing as いちざい instead of いつざい

起源と歴史

From 逸 (outstanding/extraordinary, also means to escape/surpass) + 材 (talent/material). A classical compound that has been used in Japanese literary and formal language for centuries. Its use in sports scouting and casual fan culture gives it a modern edge.

文化的背景

時代: Classical term, popular in modern sports and talent discourse

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal

地域メモ: Used across all of Japan. Common in sports commentary and talent discussions.