noun HSK 5
xìng
characteristic · property · distinctive feature · trait

Meaning

特性 refers to a distinctive characteristic or property that defines or distinguishes something. It's commonly used in technical, scientific, and descriptive contexts to describe the inherent qualities or attributes of objects, materials, systems, or even people.

Usage

This is a relatively formal term often used in academic, technical, or professional writing. In everyday conversation, people might use simpler words like 特点 (tè diǎn) instead. 特性 often appears when discussing the properties of materials, features of technology, or inherent qualities of systems.

Examples

  1. 01
    这种材料具有良好的防水特性
    Zhè zhǒng cái liào yǒu liáng hǎo de fáng shuǐ xìng.
    This material has excellent waterproof properties.
  2. 02
    我们需要研究这个系统的安全特性
    men yào yán jiū zhè ge tǒng de ān quán xìng.
    We need to study the security characteristics of this system.

Characters

Measure words

  • 一个特性
  • zhǒng几种特性

Common collocations

  • 物理特性
    xìng
    physical properties
  • 化学特性
    huà xué xìng
    chemical properties
  • 产品特性
    chǎn pǐn xìng
    product characteristics
  • 技术特性
    shù xìng
    technical characteristics

Antonyms

Origin

The word combines 特 (special/distinctive) with 性 (nature/property), literally meaning 'special nature' or 'distinctive quality.' This construction is common in modern Chinese for creating abstract nouns describing inherent qualities.

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