特長(とくちょう)

とくちょう
noun
forte, merit, strong point
1. forte, merit, strong point
A particularly good or advantageous quality; something that stands out positively.
この製品(せいひん)の特長(とくちょう)は軽(かる)さだ。
The strong point of this product is its lightness.
自分(じぶん)の特長(とくちょう)を活(い)かせる仕事(しごと)を探(さが)したい。
I want to find a job that makes use of my strengths.
この店(みせ)の特長(とくちょう)は新鮮(しんせん)な食材(しょくざい)を使(つか)うことだ。
This restaurant's strong point is using fresh ingredients.

特長(とくちょう) emphasizes positive, advantageous qualities—things that are strong points or merits.

SIMILAR WORD:

  • 特徴(とくちょう): characteristic, distinguishing feature (neutral—can be positive, negative, or neither)

The key difference:

  • 特長(とくちょう): always positive (strong points, advantages)
  • 特徴(とくちょう): neutral (any distinguishing feature)

EXAMPLE OF THE DIFFERENCE:

  • この車(くるま)の特長(とくちょう)は燃費(ねんぴ)の良(よ)さだ (The car's merit is its good fuel efficiency)
  • この車(くるま)の特徴(とくちょう)は赤(あか)い色(いろ)だ (The car's characteristic is its red color)

Related Words

Contrast: 特徴(とくちょう) (characteristic (neutral))
general
Added 2026.1.13 8:49 · Revised 2026.2.6 7:41
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