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特点 (tè diǎn) — characteristic, feature, trait

Definition

The everyday word for a 'characteristic' or 'feature' of someone or something. 特征 is more technical/scientific; 特色 emphasizes what makes something distinctive or unique.

noun
characteristicfeaturetrait
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 特点。
    Zhè ge tè diǎn hěn zhòng yào.
    This characteristic is very important.
  • 特点。
    Měi gè shì chǎng dōu yǒu bù tóng de tè diǎn.
    Every market has different characteristics.
  • 特点？
    Nǐ néng gào sù wǒ tā de tè diǎn ma?
    Can you tell me its features?

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
点diǎnpoint

特 (special) and 点 (point) combine to mean a distinctive point or 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 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 點; 点 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
黑黑hēiblack
Sound part声符shēngfú
占
占zhàn點diǎn(r)
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 點 pairs 黑 (black) with 占 for its sound; the simplified 点 is a later abbreviation.

Open 点 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 4HSK 2.0 Level 4Abstract Concepts

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