特等 (tè děng) — top grade; special class

Definition

A noun meaning 'top grade' or 'special class', used as a set modifier before another word (特等座, 特等奖, 特级品). In the seat example the English gloss shifts to 'first-class' — same idea, different collocation.

noun
top gradespecial class

Examples

  • 特等，。
    Zhè zhāng chē piào shì tè děng zuò, fēi cháng shū shì.
    This ticket is for first-class seating, very comfortable.
  • 特等，。
    Zhè jiā gōng sī shēng chǎn tè děng jí chǎn pǐn, kǒu bēi hěn hǎo.
    This company produces top-grade products and has a good reputation.
  • 特等。
    Tā huò dé le běn jiè bǐ sài de tè děng jiǎng.
    He won the top prize in this competition.

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
等děnggrade

特 means special, and 等 is grade; a special grade or top class.

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
竹竹zhúbamboo
Sound part声符shēngfú
寺
寺sì等děng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The top 竹 shows bamboo strips used for writing and sorting; the bottom 寺 once gave the sound, but now sounds different.

Open 等 →

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