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特区 (tè qū) — special economic zone (SEZ); specially designated zone

Definition

Short for 经济特区 — a government-designated area with special economic policies (tax, trade) to attract investment. Most often refers to China's coastal SEZs like 深圳 and 珠海.

noun
special economic zone (SEZ)specially designated zone
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 圳特区。
    Shēn zhèn jīng jì tè qū shì zhōng guó gǎi gé kāi fàng de chuāng kǒu.
    Shenzhen Special Economic Zone is a window of China's reform and opening-up.
  • 特区。
    Guó jiā zài yán hǎi dì qū shè lì le duō gè jīng jì tè qū.
    The state has established multiple special economic zones in coastal areas.
  • 特区。
    Zhè ge tè qū xī yǐn le dà liàng wài zī qǐ yè.
    This special zone has attracted a large number of foreign-invested enterprises.

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
区qūzone

特 means special and 区 means zone, so it denotes a specially designated area.

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 區; 区 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 區 is made from 匸 and 品; the simplified 区 is a shorthand.

Open 区 →
Appears in
Government & Politics

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