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特指 (tè zhǐ) — to refer in particular to; to specifically denote (a certain referent)

Definition

特指 means 'specifically denotes / refers in particular to' — used when a word points to ONE particular thing, not a general class. Contrast with 泛指 (HSK 7), which means the same term used in its general sense.

verb
to refer in particular toto specifically denote (a certain referent)

Examples

  • 特指。
    Zhè ge shù yǔ tè zhǐ mǒu zhǒng tè dìng de shè huì xiàn xiàng.
    This term specifically refers to a certain kind of social phenomenon.
  • “”特指。
    Wén zhāng zhōng de "chuán tǒng" tè zhǐ zhōng guó de rú jiā wén huà.
    The 'tradition' in the article particularly refers to China's Confucian culture.
  • ，“”特指。
    Zài yǔ fǎ fēn xī zhōng, "wǒ" tè zhǐ shuō huà de rén zì jǐ.
    In grammatical analysis, 'I' specifically denotes the speaker themselves.

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
指zhǐpoint

特, particular, narrows 指, point, to mean refer in particular.

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
扌Written in full as手shǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
旨
旨zhǐ指zhǐ
Same sound today

The left part 扌 is the hand form 手. The right part 旨 gives the sound.

Open 指 →
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