特定 (tèdìng)

特定 means specific, particular, or designated — referring to a particular thing or condition that has been defined or set in advance. It is often used in formal and academic contexts to indicate that something applies to a particular set of circumstances rather than in general.

Meanings

[adjective] Specific; particular; designated; given; predetermined.

Example Sentences

这条规定只适用于特定情况，不能一概而论。 Zhè tiáo guīdìng zhǐ shìyòng yú tèdìng qíngkuàng, bù néng yīgài ér lùn. This rule only applies to specific situations and cannot be generalized.

研究人员在特定的实验条件下重复了这个试验。 Yánjiū rényuán zài tèdìng de shíyàn tiáojiàn xià chóngfù le zhège shìyàn. The researchers repeated this experiment under specific experimental conditions.

语言在特定的文化背景下才能被准确理解。 Yǔyán zài tèdìng de wénhuà bèijǐng xià cái néng bèi zhǔnquè lǐjiě. Language can only be accurately understood within a specific cultural context.

公司为每个岗位设定了特定的工作职责和绩效指标。 Gōngsī wèi měi gè gǎngwèi shèdìng le tèdìng de gōngzuò zhízé hé jìxiào zhǐbiāo. The company has set specific job responsibilities and performance indicators for each position.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
特定条件	specific conditions
特定情况	particular circumstances
特定群体	specific group
特定目的	specific purpose
特定背景	specific background/context

Usage Notes

特定 is more precise than 特别 (tèbié, special/especially). 特定 always refers to something that has been specifically defined or designated — it answers "which particular one?" In research and legal writing, 特定 is preferred: 特定人群 (a specific population), 特定时期 (a specific period). It cannot usually be used predicatively (you would not say 情况是特定的 in normal speech).

Memory Hook

特 means "special" and 定 means "fixed/settled." Something 特定 is specially fixed or designated — not just any example, but the particular one that has been set apart and defined.