特征 (tè zhēng) means 'characteristic' or 'feature' — a distinguishing quality or trait that helps identify or describe something. The first character, 特 (tè), means 'special' or 'distinctive'; the second, 征 (zhēng), originally meant 'to seek' or 'sign', but in this compound it contributes the sense of 'mark' or 'evidence'. Together, they form a formal, neutral noun used widely in scientific, technical, and everyday contexts to refer to observable or defining attributes — such as physical traits of animals, behavioral patterns in psychology, or design elements in engineering.

This word is commonly used in descriptive, analytical, or comparative language — for instance, when listing key identifiers ('three main features'), explaining uniqueness ('a unique characteristic'), or classifying objects ('shared features among mammals'). It’s more precise and objective than words like 特点 (tèdiǎn), and appears frequently in textbooks, reports, and academic discussions.