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特征 (tè zhēng) — characteristic; feature; trait

Definition

A 'characteristic or trait' used in formal, factual descriptions (geography, personality, science). 特点 is the everyday spoken choice; 特色 highlights what makes something distinct.

noun
characteristicfeaturetrait
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 特征。
    Zhè ge dì qū de dì lǐ tè zhēng hěn dú tè.
    The geographical features of this region are very unique.
  • 特征。
    Tā de xìng gé tè zhēng shì chéng shí hé shàn liáng.
    His personality traits are honesty and kindness.
  • 特征。
    Kē xué jiā yán jiū le zhè zhǒng dòng wù de zhǔ yào tè zhēng.
    Scientists studied the main characteristics of this animal.

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
征zhēngsign

特 and 征 combine: a special sign marks a distinctive feature.

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 徵; 征 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 征 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (特征, 象征) it is 徵; in others it is 征.

The story is about the traditional form 徵. It originally meant punishment, from a picture of a knife with tooth-shaped protrusions on its back; later forms kept that sense.

Open 征 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5HSK 2.0 Level 5Abstract Concepts

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