HSK 6
特意
tèyì
on purpose
Structure
Subject + 特意 + Verb Phrase
How it works
The adverb '特意' means 'specially' or 'for a specific purpose.' It indicates that an action was performed with focused intentionality, often involving extra effort or consideration for others.
Examples
为了给你庆祝生日，我特意跑了趟蛋糕店。
Wèile gěi nǐ qìngzhù shēngrì, wǒ tèyì pǎole tàng dàngǎodiàn.
In order to celebrate your birthday, I specially made a trip to the bakery.
这是我特意从国外带回来的礼物，希望你喜欢。
Zhè shì wǒ tèyì cóng guówài dài huílái de lǐwù, xīwàng nǐ xǐhuān.
This is a gift I specially brought back from abroad; I hope you like it.
由于今天要开会，他特意穿了一套正装。
Yóuyú jīntiān yào kāihuì, tā tèyì chuānle yī tào zhèngzhuāng.
Since there is a meeting today, he specially wore a suit.
Common mistakes
Do not confuse '特意' with '故意' (gùyì). While both mean 'on purpose,' '故意' often has a negative connotation (doing something bad intentionally), whereas '特意' is positive or neutral, emphasizing effort or kindness.
Tip
Think of '特意' as 'making a special effort.' It is often used with phrases that imply a long distance or extra time, like '跑一趟' (making a trip) or '留下来' (staying behind).
More HSK 6 grammar
See 特意 in real Chinese
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