WHOLE CHARACTER
特tè
special; unusual; especially; specially; only; merely (literary); a bull (the original sense)
特 pairs the ox side with 寺: 特别 'especially', 特色 and 特点 'distinctive', 特意 'on purpose'.
ZDIC: 形声,从牛、寺声 — the ox side with 寺 as the sound side.
LEFT: THE OX SIDE, WRITTEN IN THE SHORTENED 牛 FORM — THE ORIGINAL SENSE WAS A BULL
牜niú
the shortened ox side (from 牛)
The written left form of the ox side (from 牛); a bound radical piece; each page shows its own role.
In 特: left: the ox side, written in the shortened 牛 form — the original sense was a bull Shown with its documented or clearly limited role.
RIGHT: THE OLD SOUND SIDE 寺 (SÌ)
寺sì
temple; government office in older use
Standalone meaning is kept separate from its role in other characters.
In 特: right: the old sound side 寺 (sì) A historical sound side, not a modern hint: tè shares tone 4 only with sì; the initials (t-/s-) and finals (-e/-i) differ.