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特地 (tè dì) — specially, for a specific purpose

Definition

特地 (tèdì) means doing something on purpose or making a special trip — emphasizes effort for a specific purpose. Like 特意, but 专门/专程 stress a dedicated, more deliberate action.

adverb
speciallyfor a specific purpose

Examples

  • 特地。
    Tā tè dì lái wǒ jiā bāng máng.
    He came to my house specially to help.
  • 特地。
    Wǒ tè dì gěi nǐ mǎi le zhè běn shū.
    I specially bought this book for you.
  • 特地。
    Tā tè dì chuān le yì shēn xīn yī fu.
    She specially wore a new outfit.

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
地dìplace or situation

特 (special) and 地 (place or situation) combine to mean done 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.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
土土tǔearth
Sound part声符shēngfú
也
也yě地dì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

地 is built from 土 (earth) and 也, which gives its sound.

Open 地 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6

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