Comments on: tè 特 = tèbié 特别, a special word

By: Elia Diodati

Elia Diodati — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 19:28:27 +0000

I regularly use chao1 超 (superlatively) in the same fashion.

By: chris(mandarin_student)

chris(mandarin_student) — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 09:24:03 +0000

I tend not to worry too much about words like this, increasing understanding just comes from use, sometimes translating as particularly or especially, or exceptionally or uniquely works but eventually it seems adding more English words or phrases to the list doesn’t help.

It just becomes what its is, some words and phrases in a foreign language are more blurred in translation, but I expect it works both ways.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 07:58:34 +0000

queqie de shuo(exactly speaking), women changyong “xiexie” laibiaoshi “Thanks anyway.”
tingnishuo “bú yào, háishì xièxie …” zong juede henguai(means: henqiguai).

Can you understand me?

By: Albert

Albert — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 07:57:28 +0000

As far as I know, the phrase “haishi xiexie” = “thanks anyway” [lit. "still thanks"]. It’s actually a shorter, simpler version of what they usually say…but…I can’t seem to find my notes on what the long version is. I’ll post it when I find it.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 07:56:36 +0000

bú yào, háishì xièxie …so, like, the “haishi” works as “but”? Like ke shi or dan shi?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 07:56:13 +0000

By the way, that last comment was from Graham in Nanchang.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 07:55:53 +0000

Hey Albert,

I don’t have time tonight to look thoroughly through your blog. But I will definitely read it later. Sounds like you’re rocking zhongwen as you were before. I appreciate the note on ‘tebie’. The only comment I have to add to ‘tebie’ is what I learnt the other week; fei chang tebie. I didn’t look it up, but was informed it meant unique. We were referring to a unique person

By: BJ expat

BJ expat — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 13:40:01 +0000

A twist on this one…

The “CBD” area of Beijing is, of course, the Central Business District. But local Beijingers have taken to assigning a more clever definition, “Chē Bér Duō”. The “bér” is actually the bié of tè bié , and this running joke is a comment on the freaking unbelievable traffic around here…and the “r” assures that this term will remain Beijing’s own. This little gem will get a laugh from people between the ages of 25 and about 40 and a confused look from older folks.

I think you are on track with your use of tè bié. It is not a comparison term, really, but meant to indicate something that is really, really special. And like fēi cháng, which is even MORE tè bié, it is often said twice for added effect (but I don’t think two tè bié rise to the level of one fēi cháng…not that it really matters…)