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特此 (tè cǐ) — hereby (used in formal written announcements or statements)

Definition

特此 is a formal written marker meaning 'hereby,' used to formally announce, certify, or apologize. It emphasizes the speaker's authority or official capacity, unlike 由此 (just 'from this / therefore') and 就此 ('at this point / thereupon').

adverb
hereby (used in formal written announcements or statements)

Examples

  • 特此，。
    tè cǐ Xuān bù, bǐ sài yán qī.
    We hereby announce that the competition has been postponed.
  • 特此，。
    tè cǐ Zhèng míng, gāi shēng chéng jì shǔ shí.
    We hereby certify that the student's grades are true.
  • 特此，。
    tè cǐ Dào qiàn, yóu yú wǒ de shī wù gěi nín dài lái bú biàn.
    I hereby apologize for the inconvenience caused by my mistake.

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tèspecially
此cǐthis

特 adds formal emphasis and 此 points to the statement, together meaning hereby.

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.

此 shows 止 (feet) and 人 (person), drawing a person stopping, to mean 'this' or 'here.'

Open 此 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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