特

• Pinyin: tè
• Hanzi breakdown: 特 = 牛 (ox) + 寺 (phonetic) — originally meant special/unique, now also used colloquially as an intensifier

Meaning

Especially; particularly; very. An adverb intensifying the degree of something.

A colloquial intensifier, especially common in northern dialects and Beijing speech. Functions similarly to 特别 but is more casual and emphatic: 特好 (really good), 特累 (really tired), 特逗 (really funny). Very common in spoken Chinese and informal writing. Different from 特 as a prefix meaning 'special' (特价, 特快).

Examples

1. 今天天气特好，我们出去走走吧。 The weather is really great today; let's go for a walk.
2. 这家店的菜特别好吃，我特推荐。 The food at this restaurant is especially delicious; I really recommend it.
3. 他讲的笑话特逗，大家都笑翻了。 The jokes he told were so funny that everyone was cracking up.

Usage Guide

Context: conversation, colloquial, northern dialect

Tone: emphatic

Do Say

• 这部电影特好看！(This movie is really great!)
• 我今天特忙，没时间聊。(I'm super busy today, no time to chat.)

Don't Say

• 书面语和正式场合少用'特'作副词 (Avoid using 特 as an adverb in formal writing — use 特别 or 非常 instead)

Origin & History

Shortened colloquial form of 特别 (especially). The standalone 特 as an intensifier emerged in northern dialects.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal