Character Familiesleft / right

特tè

special; unusual; especially; specially; only; merely (literary); a bull (the original sense)

特 pairs the ox side with 寺: 特别 'especially', 特色 and 特点 'distinctive', 特意 'on purpose'.

GF0025–2021 character list · 二级
One character pageAll readings and linked senses stay together.

left / right

ZDIC: 形声,从牛、寺声 — the ox side with 寺 as the sound side.

left / right · 特

WHOLE CHARACTER

特tè

special; unusual; especially; specially; only; merely (literary); a bull (the original sense)

特 pairs the ox side with 寺: 特别 'especially', 特色 and 特点 'distinctive', 特意 'on purpose'.

ZDIC: 形声,从牛、寺声 — the ox side with 寺 as the sound side.

LEFT: THE OX SIDE, WRITTEN IN THE SHORTENED 牛 FORM — THE ORIGINAL SENSE WAS A BULL

牜niú

the shortened ox side (from 牛)

The written left form of the ox side (from 牛); a bound radical piece; each page shows its own role.

In 特: left: the ox side, written in the shortened 牛 form — the original sense was a bull Shown with its documented or clearly limited role.

RIGHT: THE OLD SOUND SIDE 寺 (SÌ)

寺sì

temple; government office in older use

Standalone meaning is kept separate from its role in other characters.

In 特: right: the old sound side 寺 (sì) A historical sound side, not a modern hint: tè shares tone 4 only with sì; the initials (t-/s-) and finals (-e/-i) differ.

tèTone 4
  • special; unusual
  • especially; specially
  • only; merely (literary)
  • a bull (the original sense)
  • 特别tèbiéespecially; special
  • 特色tèsèdistinctive feature
  • 特点tèdiǎncharacteristic; feature
  • 特意tèyìdeliberately; on purpose

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