特長

とくちょう · tokuchou · JLPT N3 · noun

forte

🏅 特長 = special (特) + strong point (長): your special strength

Here 長 means a strong point, as in 長所 (merit). Its sound-alike twin 特徴 (also とくちょう) is any distinguishing feature, good or bad. 特長 is only ever a good one.

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.

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