个案 (gè àn) — individual case; special case | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

个案 (gè àn) emphasizes a single, particular case for study, as in research or social work. Compare 案例 (general example/instance) and 案件 (legal case only); 特例 means a rare exception.

noun

individual casespecial case

Examples

个案。
Lǜ shī zhèng zài zǐ xì fēn xī zhè ge gè àn.
The lawyer is carefully analyzing this individual case.
个案。
gè àn De yán jiū xū yào dà liàng lín chuáng shù jù.
The study of individual cases requires a large amount of clinical data.
，个案。
Zài xué shù huì yì shàng, tā bào gào le yí gè tè shū gè àn.
At the academic conference, he reported a special case.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

个gèindividual

个 means individual and 案 means case; the combination names one separate case.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 個; 个 is its simplified writing.

亻固個

Meaning part形符xíngfú

亻Written in full as人rénperson

Sound part声符shēngfú

固

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

For 个, the form 個 pairs 亻 (person) with 固 as a sound part.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

木安案

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

安

安ān案àn

Same sound today

案 pairs 木, a wood/tree shape, with 安, which is used for its sound.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Abstract Concepts

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.