辨 biàn to recognize
to recognize; to distinguish
How to remember 辨: 辛 spicy + ⿰丶丿 knife + 辛 spicy = to recognize. Blindfolded, the chef tastes one spicy sauce, cleans his knife, tastes the other spicy sauce, and is proud to recognize which is his own.
Component breakdown
辨 = 辛 spicy + ⿰丶丿 knife + 辛 spicy
- 辛 spicy
- ⿰丶丿 knife
- 辛 spicy
Blindfolded, the chef tastes one spicy sauce, cleans his knife, tastes the other spicy sauce, and is proud to recognize which is his own.
How it is used
- 'To tell apart, distinguish by the senses' - 辨别 (biànbié), 辨认 (biànrèn) to identify, 分辨 (fēnbiàn) to differentiate.
- Do NOT confuse the character with 辩 (argue): 辨 has 刀/丿 (a knife) in the middle - you distinguish by cutting things apart. 辩 has 言 (speech) in the middle - you argue with words. Same sound biàn.