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特技 (tè jì) — stunt (dangerous physical feat in performance or film); trick (skilful or deceptive act, e.g. in magic); special effects (in film, TV, or video)

Definition

Covers three related senses: physical stunts in film/performance, magician's tricks, and on-screen special effects. The exact English word depends on context — 表演 = stunt, 魔术 = trick, 影视后期 = special effects.

noun
stunt (dangerous physical feat in performance or film)trick (skilful or deceptive act, e.g. in magic)special effects (in film, TV, or video)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 特技，。
    Zhè bù diàn yǐng de tè jì fēi cháng jīng cǎi, yóu qí shì zhuī chē chǎng miàn.
    The stunts in this movie are spectacular, especially the car chase scenes.
  • 特技。
    Mó shù shī biǎo yǎn le yí gè lìng rén jīng tàn de tè jì.
    The magician performed an amazing trick.
  • 特技。
    Hòu qī zhì zuò tuán duì fù zé tiān jiā gè zhǒng tè jì xiào guǒ.
    The post-production team is responsible for adding various special effects.

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
技jìskill

特 means special and 技 means skill, so the word denotes a special skill or effect.

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 →

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
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
支
支zhī技jì
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

技 pairs 扌 (hand) with 支, which gives the sound. The hand part fits the idea of skill or ability done with the hands.

Open 技 →
Appears in
Film & Theater

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