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特效 (tè xiào) — special effects (in film, television, or video games); special efficacy (of a drug or treatment)

Definition

In media (films, games), 特效 means 'special effects' (VFX). In medicine it means 'special efficacy' of a drug or treatment — a fixed phrasing, not a general word for 'effective'.

noun
special effects (in film, television, or video games)special efficacy (of a drug or treatment)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 特效。
    Zhè bù diàn yǐng de tè xiào fēi cháng bī zhēn.
    This movie's special effects are very realistic.
  • 特效。
    Zhè zhǒng yào de tè xiào shì huǎn jiě téng tòng.
    The special efficacy of this medicine is to relieve pain.
  • 特效。
    Wǒ men dōu hěn xǐ huan nà ge yóu xì de shì jué tè xiào.
    We all like the visual special effects of that game.

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
效xiàoeffect

特 gives special and 效 gives effect, so the word means a specially good effect or special efficacy.

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
攵Written in full as攴pūto strike; action
Sound part声符shēngfú
交
交jiāo效xiào
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

效 pairs 攵 (written in full as 攴), meaning “to strike; action,” with 交, which gives the sound.

Open 效 →
Appears in
Film & TheaterMedicine & Treatment

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