特許
とっきょ · tokkyo · JLPT N1 · noun
permission
🔑📜 特 (special) + 許 (permit) = a special permission granted by the state: a patent
特 means special or unique, and 許 means permit or allow. A patent is a special permission from the government that lets only the inventor make and sell an invention for a set period.
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.