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特殊 (tè shū) — special, particular, unusual, extraordinary

Definition

形容词,meaning 'special' in the sense of 'unusual, different from normal'. 与 特别 close, but 特别 also works as an adverb ('especially'); 特定 is more restricted, meaning 'designated/specific'.

adjective
specialparticularunusualextraordinary

Examples

  • 特殊。
    Zhè ge bìng rén xū yào tè shū de zhào gù.
    This patient needs special care.
  • 特殊。
    Zhè cì kǎo shì yǒu tè shū guī dìng.
    This exam has special regulations.
  • 特殊。
    Yù dào tè shū qíng kuàng yào lì kè bào gào.
    Report immediately if you encounter a special situation.

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
殊shūdistinct

特 (special) and 殊 (distinct) 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 →

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
歺Written in full as歹dǎi
Sound part声符shēngfú
朱
朱zhū殊shū
Same sound today

The left part of 殊 is 歹, the meaning part; the right part is 朱, the sound part.

Open 殊 →
Appears in
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