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特级 (tè jí) — superior grade; top grade

Definition

Used to mark the highest grade or quality of a product, often in food, tea, or crafts. Functions as a classifier-style label placed directly before the noun (特级厨师, 特级茶叶).

adjective
superior gradetop grade

Examples

  • 特级。
    Tā shì yí wèi tè jí chú shī.
    He is a top-grade chef.
  • 特级。
    Wǒ men zhī mài tè jí shuǐ guǒ.
    We only sell superior-grade fruit.
  • 特级。
    Zhè jiā gōng sī shēng chǎn tè jí chá yè.
    This company produces superfine tea.

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
级jígrade

'特' means special and '级' grade; together they denote a superior grade.

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 級; 级 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糹Written in full as糸mìthread
Sound part声符shēngfú
及
及jí級jí
Same sound today

The traditional form 級 has 糹 (thread) and 及 as a sound part; its original sense was a sequence related to silk. The simplified 级 is a later shorthand.

Open 级 →
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