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Answer to What’s Your Specialty? – “特色(tèsè)” or “特点(tèdiǎn)”

Feb. 9, 2015

Correct Answer: A

In the Chinese language, both “特色(tèsè)” and “特点(tèdiǎn)” can be used to indicate a distinctive characteristic, trait, specialty, feature, etc. However, their usages are quite different.

1 “特色(tèsè)”

“特色(tèsè)”typically refers to a positive defining characteristic that describes a certain “style,” “taste,” “situation,” and so on.

Examples

Linda: Tīngshuō Liú Wěi bānjiā le.
Linda:  听说       刘 伟     搬家 了
Linda: I heard that Liu Wei has moved.

Zhāng Míng: Shìde, tā xīnjiā de zhuāngxiū fēng’gé hěn yǒu tèsè.
张       明:    是的,他 新家 的         装修       风格   很   有  特色。
Zhang Ming: Yes, he decorated his new house in a really unique style.

Zhè gè huǒguō de wèidào zhēnshì tài yǒu tèsè le!
这   个    火锅    的  味道       真是    太  有  特色 了!
The taste of this hot pot is so special!

“特色(shénme shíhou)”,can also be used with some nouns, such as “特色小吃(tèsè xiǎochī)specialty snack,” “特色服务(tèsè fúwù) key services,” “特色节目(tèsè jiémù) feature program,” etc.

Examples

Cindy: Qǐngwèn jiāngsū diànshìtái de tèsè jiémù shì shénme?
Cindy:  请问      江苏       电视台  的  特色 节目   是    什 么?
Cindy: Excuse me, what’s Jiangsu TV’s feature program?

Wáng Xīn: Fēi chéng wù rǎo.
王   心:《非  诚      勿 扰》。
Wang Xin: If You Are the One.

2 “特点(tèdiǎn)”

“特色(shénme shíhou)”,can also be used with some nouns, such as “特色小吃(tèsè xiǎochī)specialty snack,” “特色服务(tèsè fúwù) key services,” “特色节目(tèsè jiémù) feature program,” etc.

“特色(tèsè)”typically refers to a positive defining characteristic that describes a certain “style,” “taste,” “situation,” and so on.

Examples

Judy:Tāmen shì shuāngbāotāi ma?
Judy:    他们    是          双胞胎     吗?
Judy: Are they twins?

Betty: Shìde, gēge de tèdiǎn shì bǐjiào wàixiàng, dìdi de tèdiǎn shì bǐjiào nèixiàng.
Betty:是的,   哥哥 的  特点   是  比较    外向,   弟弟 的  特点   是  比较   内向。
Betty: Yes, the elder brother is more outgoing and the younger brother is more introverted.

Júhuā de tèdiǎn shì zài qiūjì kāifàng.
菊花    的  特点   是  在  秋季 开放。
The special characteristic of chrysanthemums is that they bloom in the autumn.


In our test, Bruce wants to know what is a special snack of Beijing, so the correct answer is A.

<<Back to “What’s Your Specialty? – “特色(tèsè)” or “特点(tèdiǎn)””

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