特例 (tè lì) — (noun) special case, isolated example | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A 特例 is a 'special case' that stands apart from the general rule, similar to 例外 (exception). Unlike 个案 (individual case), it emphasizes the unusualness rather than the single instance.

noun

special caseisolated example

Examples

特例，。
Zhè ge shì jiàn shì gè tè lì, bù néng dài biǎo zhěng gè háng yè.
This incident is a special case and cannot represent the entire industry.
，特例。
Zài yán jiū guò chéng zhōng, wǒ men fā xiàn le jǐ gè tè lì.
During the research process, we discovered several special cases.
特例，。
Zuò wéi tè lì, zhè ge bìng rén xū yào dān dú chǔ lǐ.
As a special case, this patient needs to be handled separately.

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

特 means special and 例 means case, so together they denote a case set apart from the usual.

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.

亻列例

Meaning part形符xíngfú

亻Written in full as人rén

Sound part声符shēngfú

列

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

例 is built from 亻, which relates to people, and 列, which gives the sound.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Abstract Concepts

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