noun
Technical term in linguistics, especially phonology, referring to a minimal contrastive unit such as [±voice] or [±nasal].
音韻論では、弁別的素性によって音素が区別される。
In phonology, phonemes are distinguished by distinctive features.
Compound of 弁別的 (distinctive) + 素性 (feature). The exact historical derivation is uncertain; the term is a modern linguistic calque.