特邀 (tè yāo) — to specially invite (as a distinguished guest) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

特邀 (tè yāo) means 'specially invite' — the 特 marks the guest as distinguished, more formal than plain 邀请. Unlike 应邀 (to accept an invitation), this is the act of issuing the special invite.

verb

to specially invite (as a distinguished guest)

Examples

特邀。
Zhè cì huó dòng tè yāo le yí wèi zhù míng kē xué jiā.
This event specially invited a famous scientist.
特邀。
Tā shì bèi tè yāo lái cān jiā yǎn chū de.
He was specially invited to participate in the performance.
特邀。
Gōng sī tè yāo le yì pī zhuān jiā jìn xíng péi xùn.
The company specially invited a group of experts to conduct training.

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

特 means specially and 邀 means invite, so the word describes inviting someone in a special capacity.

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.

牛寺特

Meaning part形符xíngfú

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.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

辶敫邀

Meaning part形符xíngfú

辶Written in full as辵chuò

Sound part声符shēngfú

敫

敫jiǎo邀yāo

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

邀 pairs 辶, a walking part, with 敫, which gives the sound.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Business & Commerce

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