TongTong
Sign in

特许 (tè xǔ) — to give special permission; to license

Definition

Formal/business term meaning to grant a special permit or license — usually by an authority (government, company) to a specific party. Often seen in phrases like 特许经营 (franchise/authorized operation).

verb
to give special permissionto license

Examples

  • 特许。
    Zhèng fǔ tè xǔ zhè jiā gōng sī jīng yíng shí yóu yè wù.
    The government specially permitted this company to operate oil business.
  • 特许。
    Tā men huò dé le kāi fā zhè kuài tǔ dì de tè xǔ.
    They obtained a special permit to develop this plot of land.
  • 特许。
    tè xǔ Jīng yíng mó shì zài cān yǐn háng yè hěn cháng jiàn.
    The franchise business model is very common in the catering industry.

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
许xǔpermit

特 (special) qualifies 许 (permit), meaning to grant something specially.

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 許; 许 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánspeech; words
Sound part声符shēngfú
午
午wǔ許xǔ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 許 pairs 言, meaning speech or words, with 午 for its sound; 许 is a simplified form.

Open 许 →
Appears in
Law & Justice

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.