How to say "special" in Japanese

• 特別とくべつJLPT N4approx.Common
  na-adjective, no-adjective, adverbThe general word for 'special': something out of the ordinary, or treated as such. Covers a special day, occasion, or treatment, and is the usual choice when no narrower sense is intended.
  特別価格とくべつかかくの見積みつもりです。↗

  We have quoted special prices.
• 特殊とくしゅJLPT N2approx.Common
  na-adjective, no-adjectiveCovers 'special' in the sense of peculiar or distinctive in kind: it describes the nature or properties that set a thing apart, as in special characteristics or special circumstances, rather than special treatment.
• スペシャルCommon
  na-adjectiveThe loanword, used where 'special' appears as a label or title: a special event, offer, or edition, a TV special. It has a promotional flavor rather than a plain descriptive one.
  スペシャルというのはどんな味あじですか。↗

  What does the special taste like?
• 別格べっかくCommon
  no-adjectiveCovers 'special' as 'exceptional': someone or something in a class of its own, ranked apart from the rest. Used when singling out what clearly stands above the ordinary.
  コックとして彼かれは別格べっかくだ。↗

  As a cook he is in a class by himself.
• 定食ていしょくJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounNot a general word for 'special': it means a set meal, and its 'special' sense is only the daily special on a restaurant menu — for ordering food, not for describing things as special.
  日替ひがわり定食ていしょくにしませんか。↗

  How about getting the special of the day?

Use 特別 for the general sense, 特殊 for things peculiar or distinctive in kind, 「スペシャル」 for loanword labels, as in events or offers, 別格 for the exceptional in a class of their own, and 定食 only for set meals.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 特別とくべつspecial
• 特殊とくしゅspecial
• スペシャルspecial
• 別格べっかくspecial
• 定食ていしょくset meal
• 別途べっとseparate
• 格別かくべつparticular
• 特段とくだんexceptional
• 別段べつだんparticular
• 特定とくていspecific
• 破格はかくextraordinary
• 異色いしょくunique
• 特例的とくれいてきspecial (case, etc.)
• さしたる(any) particular
• アドホックad hoc
• 一方ならぬひとかたならぬextraordinary
• 格外かくがいnonstandard
• これといった(any) particular
• 一種独特いっしゅどくとくunique
• これという(any) particular
• 分外ぶんがいnot within proper limits
• 臨時りんじspecial
• エクストラextra
• ＳＰエス・ピーspecial