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特异功能 (tè yì gōng néng) — supernatural ability, paranormal power; exceptional ability, outstanding talent

Definition

A noun for a supernatural or paranormal power — abilities beyond normal human limits (e.g. telepathy, clairvoyance), often used in pseudoscience or fantasy contexts. Note the second sense means 'exceptional talent', which is rare in modern use.

noun
supernatural abilityparanormal powerexceptional abilityoutstanding talent

Examples

  • 特异功能，。
    Tā shēng chēng zì jǐ yǒu tè yì gōng néng, kě yǐ kàn chuān bié rén de xīn si.
    He claims to have supernatural abilities and can read others' minds.
  • 特异功能。
    Zhè bù diàn yǐng jiǎng de shì yí gè yōng yǒu tè yì gōng néng de xiǎo hái de gù shi.
    This movie is about a child with supernatural abilities.
  • 特异功能，。
    Tā de tè yì gōng néng bìng bú shì tiān shēng de, ér shì hòu tiān xùn liàn chū lái de.
    His exceptional ability is not innate but trained later.

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.

特异special and unusual
特tèspecial异yìunusual
联合Coordinate
功能functions and abilities
功gōngfunction能néngability
联合Coordinate

特异 means special and unusual, and 功能 names abilities, together referring to exceptional powers.

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 異; 异 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 異 depicts a person with a mask 田 over the face, so the face looks different. The simplified 异 is a later shorthand.

Open 异 →

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
力力lìstrength
Sound part声符shēngfú
工
工gōng功gōng
Same sound today

功 puts 力 (strength) beside 工, which gives the sound gōng and means labour or work.

Open 功 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

能 is an old picture of a bear, showing two paws and a face with an open mouth.

Open 能 →
Appears in
Mythology & Folklore

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