特

Mandarin · pinyin tè

Meanings

  1. special
  2. unique
  3. distinguished
  4. especially
  5. unusual
  6. very
  7. abbr. for 特克斯 tè kè sī, tex
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Characters in this entry

特
tè · special, unique, distinguished
Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

4 · te4

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Dictionary tones. Connected speech can change their realization.

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

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Compare dictionary sources Rime · Wiktionary

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

dak6

Cantonese word readings for 特. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

character

  1. Senses centering on a meaning of 'bull' — (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) bull; ox
  2. Senses centering on a meaning of 'bull' — (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) cattle
  3. Senses centering on a meaning of 'bull' — (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese, of animals, especially bull) male
  4. Senses centering on a meaning of 'bull' — (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) one domestic animal
  5. Senses centering on a meaning of 'bull' — (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) three-year-old animal
  6. Senses of 'specialness' — special; unique; distinguished
  7. Senses of 'specialness' — specially; intentionally
  8. Senses of 'specialness' — (colloquial) especially; outstandingly
  9. (abbreviation, alt-of) Senses of 'specialness' — short for 特務/特务 (tèwù, “special agent; spy”)
  10. Senses of 'singleness' — (literary) single; alone; by oneself
  11. Senses of 'singleness' — (literary) only; just
  12. Senses of 'singleness' — (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) match; mate; spouse
  13. (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) to stand tall
  14. (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) in vain
  15. (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) unexpectedly; yet
  16. Used in transliterations.
  17. Used in transliterations. — (Mainland China) short for 特克斯 (tèkèsī, “tex”)
  18. a surname

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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