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特务 (tè wu) — secret agent, spy, undercover operative

Definition

A 特务 (tèwu) is a secret agent or spy, usually with a government or military affiliation. Note: 特务 is a single noun, not 'special' + 'task' — the second character is read wu, not wù.

noun
secret agentspyundercover operative
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 特务。
    Zhè ge tè wu zài jī chǎng bèi dài bǔ le.
    This spy was arrested at the airport.
  • 特务，。
    Tā yǐ qián shì yì míng tè wu, hòu lái tuì yì le.
    He used to be a secret agent and later retired.
  • 特务。
    Diàn yǐng lǐ de tè wu dōu yǒu hěn duō gāo kē jì zhuāng bèi.
    The spies in the movies all have a lot of high-tech equipment.

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tèspecial
务wùduty

“特” (special) and “务” (duties/affairs) combine to mean special duties, hence a secret agent.

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 →

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 務; 务 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìstrength
Sound part声符shēngfú
敄
敄wù務wù
Same sound today

In the traditional form 務, 力 shows the sense of strength or effort, while 敄 gives the sound. The simplified 务 is a later shorthand.

Open 务 →
Appears in
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