special ward
Abbreviation of 特別区. Refers to the 23 special wards of Tokyo.
See also: 特別区
There are 23 special wards in Tokyo.
special administrative region (China)
Abbreviation of 特別行政区. Refers to regions like Hong Kong and Macau.
See also: 特別行政区
Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China.
Shenzhen is one of China's special economic zones.
The government designated this area as an economic special zone.
They set up a special zone to attract foreign companies.
特区 is the shorthand form typically seen in news reports, whereas 特別経済区 is the full official name for a Chinese special economic zone.
特区 is the everyday abbreviation, while 特別行政区 is the formal designation used for places like Hong Kong and Macau.
Abbreviation of various compounds beginning with 特別 (special) and ending with 区 (ward/zone/district). The specific full form depends on context.