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特种兵 (tè zhǒng bīng) — special forces

Definition

A trained soldier in elite military units (special forces). Refers specifically to the personnel, not the unit itself (the unit is 特种部队).

noun
special forces
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 特种兵。
    Tā shì yì míng tè zhǒng bīng.
    He is a special forces soldier.
  • 特种兵。
    Zhè bù diàn shì jù jiǎng tè zhǒng bīng de gù shi.
    This TV series tells the story of special forces.
  • 特种兵。
    tè zhǒng bīng De xùn liàn fēi cháng yán gé.
    Special forces training is very strict.

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.

特种special kind
特tèspecial种zhǒngkind
偏正Modifier + head
兵bīngsoldier

特 gives special, 种 gives kind, and 兵 gives soldier, together naming soldiers of a special kind.

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
禾禾hérice
Sound part声符shēngfú
中
中zhōng种zhǒng
Same sound today

种 pairs 禾, which shows rice or grain and fits meanings like plant and seed, with 中, which gives its sound.

Open 种 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 斤斤jīna short axe
  • 廾廾gǒng2 hands

兵 combines 斤, a short axe, with 廾, two hands, showing a pair of hands holding a weapon.

Open 兵 →
Appears in
Military & Defense

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