特

tè

寺 + 牛

HSK 3.0Level 6

Definitions

tè (adjective) special; unique; distinctive

tè (adverb) especially; particularly

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 牛 represents the meaning and 寺 represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "bull". The meaning later shifted to "prominent" and "special".

Semantic: 牛 Phonetic: 寺

About

The character 特 (tè) is a phono-semantic compound. Its semantic radical 牜 (niú), meaning cow or bovine, is combined with the phonetic component 寺 (sì), meaning temple. The bovine radical indicates its original meaning: a male cow or bull, specifically an outstanding beast selected for religious sacrifice. This association with carefully chosen, exceptional offerings led the character's meaning to shift from a concrete animal to the abstract concepts of being special, unique, extraordinary, or prominent.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这个蛋糕特别好吃。

Zhège dàngāo tèbié hǎochī.

This cake is especially delicious.

他的特点是很聪明。

Tā de tèdiǎn shì hěn cōngmíng.

His characteristic is that he is very smart.

这家餐厅的特色菜很好。

Zhè jiā cāntīng de tèsè cài hěn hǎo.

This restaurant's specialty dishes are very good.

今天商场有特价活动，很多人来购物。

Jīntiān shāngchǎng yǒu tèjià huódòng, hěn duō rén lái gòuwù.

Today the mall has a special price event, many people come shopping.

这个地区的特产是水果。

Zhège dìqū de tèchǎn shì shuǐguǒ.

This area's local specialty is fruit.

由于情况特殊，我们需要采取特别措施。

Yóuyú qíngkuàng tèshū, wǒmen xūyào cǎiqǔ tèbié cuòshī.

Due to the special circumstances, we need to take special measures.

这部电影的特效做得非常逼真，给观众留下了深刻印象。

Zhè bù diànyǐng de tèxiào zuò dé fēicháng bīzhēn, gěi guānzhòng liú xiàle shēnkè yìnxiàng.

The special effects in this movie are very realistic, leaving a deep impression on the audience.

在经济特区，政府实施了一系列优惠政策以吸引外资。

Zài jīngjì tèqū, zhèngfǔ shíshīle yī xìliè yōuhuì zhèngcè yǐ xīyǐn wàizī.

In the economic special zone, the government implemented a series of preferential policies to attract foreign investment.

Related Characters

Component: 寺

Component: 牛

特