特: Especially in Informal Speech in Chinese
特
特 is an informal degree adverb meaning especially or really. It appears directly before the adjective or suitable mental predicate whose degree it raises, as in 特高兴. It is not an adjective complement, cannot follow the description, and cannot take the aspect particle 了. Conversation favors 特, while formal prose usually chooses 格外, 极其, or another less colloquial intensifier.
Published July 23, 2026
Reviewed July 23, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
Subject + 特 + Adjective / Mental verb
Read the structure
特 is an informal degree adverb meaning especially or really. It appears directly before the adjective or suitable mental predicate whose degree it raises, as in 特高兴. It is not an adjective complement, cannot follow the description, and cannot take the aspect particle 了. Conversation favors 特, while formal prose usually chooses 格外, 极其, or another less colloquial intensifier. Keep the model Subject + 特 + Adjective / Mental verb visible while you compare each sentence.
听到这个消息，我特高兴。
I was really happy to hear the news.
Choose the right context
Intensify a colloquial adjective: 特高兴。 Intensify a suitable feeling or preference. Use it in informal speech where 特别 would also fit.
这家小店的面特好吃。
The noodles at this small restaurant are especially tasty.
Respect the boundary
Do not place 特 after the adjective. Do not attach 了 to 特. Do not treat it as the noun meaning special.
我高兴特。
(I happy especially.)
Repair the pattern
The degree adverb follows the adjective: 特 is a degree adverb and must precede 高兴. 了 is attached to the degree adverb: 特 cannot take the aspect particle 了.
我特高兴。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
听到这个消息，我特高兴。
I was really happy to hear the news.
听到
Subject
This part occupies the Subject position in the model pattern.
这个
特
This part occupies the 特 position in the model pattern.
消息
Adjective / Mental verb
This part occupies the Adjective / Mental verb position in the model pattern.
，
Subject
This part occupies the Subject position in the model pattern.
我
特
This part occupies the 特 position in the model pattern.
特
Adjective / Mental verb
This part occupies the Adjective / Mental verb position in the model pattern.
高兴
Subject
This part occupies the Subject position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
听到这个消息，我特高兴。
I was really happy to hear the news.
这家小店的面特好吃。
The noodles at this small restaurant are especially tasty.
他小时候特喜欢画画。
He especially liked drawing as a child.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Intensify a colloquial adjective: 特高兴。
- Intensify a suitable feeling or preference.
- Use it in informal speech where 特别 would also fit.
Do not use it when
- Do not place 特 after the adjective.
- Do not attach 了 to 特.
- Do not treat it as the noun meaning special.
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
我高兴特。
我特高兴。
The degree adverb follows the adjective
特 is a degree adverb and must precede 高兴.
我特了高兴。
我特高兴。
了 is attached to the degree adverb
特 cannot take the aspect particle 了.
我高兴特。
特 is a degree adverb and must precede 高兴.
我特了高兴。
特 cannot take the aspect particle 了.
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 特.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 特. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
特: Especially in Informal Speech Questions
How is 特 different from 特别?
As degree adverbs they can overlap, but 特 is shorter and strongly colloquial. In a formal report, choose 格外, 极其, or a more precise evaluation instead. Keep 特 for a clearly conversational voice, and check that the following predicate is gradable before using it. This register contrast matters. The lesson therefore treats register as part of correct use.
Can 特 modify every verb?
No. It naturally modifies gradable descriptions and some feelings or preferences.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: GF0025-2021 Appendix A, Level 6 item 【六06】, 程度副词：特、异常
Supports placement in HSK 6; it does not independently establish the usage explanation.
Official sourceA Reference Grammar of Chinese
Huang, Shi and Li · Cambridge University Press · 2022
Locator: Chapter 12, §§12.1–12.4, degree adverbs and adverb position
Places degree adverbs immediately before the gradable predicate they modify.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Compare
异常异常: Abnormally or Exceptionally
Compare this lesson with 异常 presenting an unusually high degree in formal description; both belong to fine differences in degree and change, but they organize a different sentence role or discourse job.
Compare
稍稍稍稍: A Small Controlled Degree
Compare this lesson with 稍稍 reducing the degree of a predicate; both belong to fine differences in degree and change, but they organize a different sentence role or discourse job.
Compare
忽A忽B忽A忽B: Abrupt Alternation
Compare this lesson with 忽A忽B showing abrupt alternation between two states; both belong to fine differences in degree and change, but they organize a different sentence role or discourse job.
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