特别 (tè bié) — unusual; special in Mandarin
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#256 most common word · HSK 3 · CEFR B1
Pinyin colour key: tone 1 (high flat), tone 2 (rising), tone 3 (dipping), tone 4 (falling), neutral.
Tone breakdown
特别 is pronounced tè bié. Tap any syllable’s row to hear the whole word.
In a sentence
Jīntiān tiānqì tèbié hǎo.
The weather is particularly nice today.
Hear it, then say it right
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Start freeFrequently asked questions
What does 特别 mean?+
特别 (tè bié) means "unusual; special" in Mandarin Chinese.
How do you pronounce 特别?+
特别 is pronounced tè bié. It uses the tone 4 (falling), then the tone 2 (rising). Tap the character on this page to hear native audio.
How common is 特别 in Mandarin?+
特别 is the #256 most frequent word in spoken Mandarin, so it is one of the first words worth learning.
Where 特别 fits
Every HSK 3 word with tone-coloured pinyin and audio.
Words at a similar frequency
Master the tones first
What each tone sounds like and why it matters.
Why some tones change in connected speech.
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Browse more on the Mandarin vocabulary hub, or read how to learn Mandarin tones.