特出 (tè chū) — outstanding, extraordinary, exceptional

Definition

Literary adjective meaning 'standing out from the crowd' — stronger and more formal than everyday 突出. Used in writing about people, talent, or contributions.

adjective
outstandingextraordinaryexceptional

Examples

  • 特出，。
    Tā zài zhè cì bǐ sài zhōng biǎo xiàn tè chū, huò dé le dì yī míng.
    He performed outstandingly in this competition and won first place.
  • 特出。
    Zhè wèi kē xué jiā de gòng xiàn shí fēn tè chū.
    This scientist's contributions are truly extraordinary.
  • 特出。
    Tā de cái huá zài tuán duì zhōng xiǎn de gé wài tè chū.
    Her talent stands out especially in the team.

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
出chūstand out

Special and standing out together mean outstanding.

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.

出 combines 止 (foot) and 凵 (cave) to show a foot stepping out of a cave.

Open 出 →

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