区分 qūfēn to differentiate
to differentiate; to draw a distinction; to divide into categories
How to remember 区分: 区 area + 分 divide = to differentiate.
Characters
How it is used
- To distinguish/differentiate between things - 区分真假 (qūfēn zhēn jiǎ) tell real from fake, 很难区分 (hěn nán qūfēn) hard to tell apart.
- Focus on separating things into distinct categories; contrast 分辨 (fēnbiàn), which stresses perceiving the difference by sense/judgment, and 区别 (qūbié), often the noun 'difference'.
- Common in explanations and classification.
Example sentences
- 区分善恶不容易。 Qūfēn shàn'è bù róngyì.It isn't easy to distinguish good from evil.
- 只凭长相的话很难区分英国人和美国人。 Zhǐ píng zhǎngxiàng dehuà hěnnán qūfēn yīngguórén hé měiguó rén.It's hard to tell Englishmen from Americans just by the way they look.