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特别 (tè bié) — (adjective) special, unusual; (adverb) especially, particularly, very

Definition

As an adjective, 特别 means 'special, unusual' (more everyday than the written 特殊). As an adverb meaning 'especially', it precedes adjectives/verbs — 尤其 is more emphatic, while 格外 stresses an unusually high degree.

adjective
specialunusual
adverb
especiallyparticularlyvery

Examples

  • 特别。
    Zhè ge diàn yǐng tè bié hǎo kàn.
    This movie is especially good.
  • 特别。
    Jīn tiān shì yí gè tè bié de rì zi.
    Today is a special day.
  • 特别。
    Tā tè bié xǐ huan dǎ lán qiú.
    He especially likes playing basketball.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

特tèspecial
别biédifferent

特 (special) and 别 (different) combine to describe something not ordinary.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 別; 别 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 別 pairs 冎 (bone) with 刀 (knife), showing a knife cutting up bone and flesh. The simplified 别 is a shorthand, so its parts are not the historical components.

Open 别 →

Grammar

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 3HSK 2.0 Level 31000 Most Frequent Chinese WordsComparison & Degree2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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