分别 fēnbié to part
to part; to leave each other; to distinguish; to tell apart; difference; distinction; in different ways; differently; separately; individually
How to remember 分别: 分 divide + 别 don't do something = to part.
Characters
How it is used
- Two threads: (1) to part/say goodbye - 分别多年 (fēnbié duō nián) parted for many years; (2) 'respectively/separately' - 他们分别是医生和老师 (tāmen fēnbié shì yīshēng hé lǎoshī) they are a doctor and a teacher respectively.
- Also 'to distinguish': 分别是非 (fēnbié shìfēi) to tell right from wrong.
- As the adverb 'respectively', it maps items one-to-one across two lists.