你太有才了- nice compliment!

[Scoobyqueen]

I just heard this idiom. I was just wondering how common it actually is or if in fact it is already out of date. It is used informally as a compliment if you want to say someone is really clever.

[muyongshi]

I tend to hear used a little bit more on the sarcastic side as opposed to the "real compliment" {even though it can be used that way.}

[imron]

I would imagine people use this more in jest rather than as a serious compliment.

Edit: muyongshi beat me to it.

But see also this. 赵本山's spring festival gala skit from 2007.

[fengyixiao]

It's a hot idiom and usaully jest or sarcastic.

Also it can be compliment.

[Scoobyqueen]

Thanks for the illumination. It sounds like you are more likely to get a compliment for using this expression (if you are a foreigner) since it is supposed to be quite colloquial.

[carlo]

Dongbeiren say this a lot, I think.

[gato]

It could be a compliment or a sarcastic quip, depending on your tone of voice, like a lot of other things.