特别奖 (tè bié jiǎng) — special award

Definition

noun
special award
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 特别奖。
    Tā huò dé le gōng sī de tè bié jiǎng.
    He received the company's special award.
  • 特别奖。
    Zhè ge tè bié jiǎng shì bān gěi yōu xiù yuán gōng de.
    This special award is given to outstanding employees.
  • 特别奖。
    Jīn nián de tè bié jiǎng jīn é bǐ qù nián gāo hěn duō.
    This year's special award amount is much higher than last year's.

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.

特别special
特tèspecial别biédifferent
联合Side by side
奖jiǎngaward

特别奖 pairs 特别 'special' with 奖 'award' to name a prize given for special reasons.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
牛牛niúox
Sound part声符shēngfú
寺
寺sì特tè
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.

Open 特 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 別; 别 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 別 pairs 冎 (bone) with 刀 (knife), showing a knife cutting up bone and flesh. The simplified 别 is a shorthand, so its parts are not the historical components.

Open 别 →

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 獎; 奖 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
犬犬quǎndog
Sound part声符shēngfú
將
將jiāng獎jiǎng
Same sound today

The traditional form 獎 pairs 將 as a sound part with 犬, a dog; the simplified 奖 is a later shorthand. The evidence says the dog part's meaning is unclear, perhaps referring to guiding a dog by voice.

Open 奖 →

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