特
tè · HSK 6
special
🐄✨ cow (牛) + temple (寺) — a cow at a temple is extraordinarily special
Left component 牛 means ox, right component 寺 means temple. If a cow showed up at a temple, everyone would call it unusual and extraordinary.
特 — cow 牛 + temple 寺 (phonetic)
Originally referred to a male bull or large ox, with 牛 'cow' as the meaning component and 寺 supplying the sound. Over time it shifted from 'bull' to 'special, particular, unique,' the sense used today.