特别
especially; particularly; special
tèbié
What does 特别 mean?
特别 (tèbié) plays two main roles. As an adverb (the most common HSK 3 use), it intensifies whatever follows — 'especially / particularly / really.' 特别好 means 'particularly good,' 特别冷 means 'really cold.' It's stronger than 很 (hěn, 'very') and slightly more emphatic than 非常 (fēicháng).
As an adjective, it means 'special / unusual' — 一个特别的礼物 ('a special gift'), 他很特别 ('he's unique / unusual'). A common pattern is 特别是 (tèbié shì, 'especially / above all'): 我喜欢水果，特别是苹果 ('I like fruit, especially apples'). Native speakers use 特别 constantly in spoken Chinese — it's warmer and more conversational than the more formal 尤其 (yóuqí). Don't confuse with 别
Character breakdown
special; particular
other; different
Memory hook: 特 'special' + 别 'other / set apart' = set apart as special — particularly, especially.
Example sentences
今天天气特别好。
Jīntiān tiānqì tèbié hǎo.
The weather is especially nice today.
spoken
我特别喜欢吃中国菜。
Wǒ tèbié xǐhuan chī Zhōngguó cài.
I particularly love Chinese food.
spoken
他送了我一个特别的礼物。
Tā sòng le wǒ yí ge tèbié de lǐwù.
He gave me a special gift.
neutral
我喜欢水果，特别是苹果。
Wǒ xǐhuan shuǐguǒ, tèbié shì píngguǒ.
I like fruit, especially apples.
neutral
这个地方没什么特别的。
Zhège dìfang méi shénme tèbié de.
There's nothing special about this place.
spoken
Common phrases with 特别
Synonyms
非常 means 'extremely / very' and works in any context, slightly more formal. 特别 has the extra meaning of 'specifically / set apart,' and it can also be an adjective ('special'). 非常 can only be an adverb.
尤其 means 'especially / above all,' more formal and often used in writing. 特别 covers the same meaning but is the everyday spoken choice.
格外 also means 'particularly / exceptionally,' but it's literary and emphasizes 'beyond the normal range.' 特别 is the everyday word.
Don't confuse 特别 with
别 alone means 'don't' (别去 = 'don't go') or 'other.' 特别 is 'especially / special.' Beginners sometimes drop the 特 by mistake and reverse the meaning.
特 by itself appears mainly in compounds (特点 'characteristic,' 特色 'distinctive feature'). As a freestanding adverb meaning 'especially,' you must say 特别, not just 特, in standard Mandarin.
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