特使 (tè shǐ) — special envoy | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

special envoy

Measure word · 位

特使。
Tā zuò wéi tè shǐ bèi pài wǎng nà ge guó jiā.
He was sent to that country as a special envoy.
特使。
tè shǐ De rèn wu shì cù jìn liǎng guó hé píng.
The special envoy's mission is to promote peace between the two countries.
特使。
Zǒng tǒng rèn mìng le yí wèi xīn tè shǐ.
The president appointed a new special envoy.

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.

特tèspecial

特 and 使 combine to mean an envoy sent for a special purpose.

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.

牛寺特

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

寺

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

The shape combines 牛 (ox) with 寺, which gives the pronunciation; it originally meant a large bull.

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

亻吏使

Meaning part形符xíngfú

亻Written in full as人rén

Sound part声符shēngfú

吏

吏lì使shǐ

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

使 pairs 亻 (person) with 吏, which pictures a hand holding something like a flag, giving the sense of a representative or ambassador.

Appears in