Usage note
“特色”是一个东西特别的地方，比如这道菜有家乡特色。
“tèsè” shì yī gè dōngxi tèbié de dìfāng, bǐrú zhè dào cài yǒu jiāxiāng tèsè.
"Feature" is something special about a thing, like this dish has a hometown feature.
Context note
每个地方都有自己特色的食物和风俗。
Měi gè dìfāng dōu yǒu zìjǐ tèsè de shíwù hé fēngsú.
Every place has its own featured foods and customs.
5 examples
这家餐厅有特色菜。
zhè jiā cān tīng yǒu tè sè cài。
This restaurant has featured dishes.
中国剪纸很有特色。
zhōng guó jiǎn zhǐ hěn yǒu tè sè。
Chinese paper cutting has great features.
这个书包的设计很有特色。
zhè ge shū bāo de shè jì hěn yǒu tè sè。
The design of this backpack has a lot of features.
我们学校的特色是音乐课。
wǒ men xué xiào de tè sè shì yīn yuè kè。
Our school's feature is music class.
这件衣服有民族特色。
zhè jiàn yī fu yǒu mín zú tè sè。
This piece of clothing has ethnic features.
5 mini stories
小明的家乡有特色小吃——糖葫芦。他请朋友品尝。
xiǎo míng de jiā xiāng yǒu tè sè xiǎo chī — — táng hú lu。 tā qǐng péng yǒu pǐn cháng。
Xiao Ming's hometown has a featured snack—candied hawthorn sticks. He invited friends to taste.
这个公园的特色是有一个大湖。很多人在湖边玩。
zhè ge gōng yuán de tè sè shì yǒu yí gè dà hú。 hěn duō rén zài hú biān wán。
This park's feature is a big lake. Many people play by the lake.
小红画的画很有特色，用了很多颜色。老师表扬了她。
xiǎo hóng huà de huà hěn yǒu tè sè， yòng le hěn duō yán sè。 lǎo shī biǎo yáng le tā。
Xiao Hong's painting has a lot of features, using many colors. The teacher praised her.
这家书店的特色是有一个阅读角。孩子们喜欢在那里看书。
zhè jiā shū diàn de tè sè shì yǒu yí gè yuè dú jiǎo。 hái zi men xǐ huan zài nà lǐ kàn shū。
This bookstore's feature is a reading corner. Children like to read there.
我们班的特色是每个人都会种花。教室很漂亮。
wǒ men bān de tè sè shì měi gè rén dōu huì zhǒng huā。 jiào shì hěn piào liang。
Our class's feature is that everyone can grow flowers. The classroom is very beautiful.
Mini dialogue
中国菜
A
你喜欢中国菜吗？
Nǐ xǐhuan Zhōngguó cài ma?
Do you like Chinese food?
B
喜欢，中国菜有很多特色。
Xǐhuan, Zhōngguó cài yǒu hěn duō tèsè.
Yes, Chinese food has many special features.
家乡美食
A
你的家乡有什么特色菜？
Nǐ de jiāxiāng yǒu shénme tèsè cài?
What specialty dishes does your hometown have?
B
我们家乡的特色是辣的食物。
Wǒmen jiāxiāng de tèsè shì là de shíwù.
Our hometown's specialty is spicy food.
Related words and contrasts
similar
特点
tè diǎn
characteristic, trait
特点 is a general characteristic, while 特色 often implies a distinctive feature.
related
风味
fēng wèi
flavor, style
风味 is often used for food, meaning local flavor or style.
opposite
普通
pǔ tōng
ordinary, common
普通 means ordinary, the opposite of having special features.