辨别 biànbié to distinguish
to distinguish; to differentiate; to discern; to recognize; to tell
How to remember 辨别: 辨 to recognize + 别 don't do something = to distinguish.
Characters
How it is used
- To distinguish / tell apart by discerning differences - 辨别真伪 (biànbié zhēnwěi) to tell genuine from fake.
- Involves careful judgment among options (辨别方向 figure out which direction; 辨别是非 tell right from wrong).
- 辨别 stresses discriminating between things; 辨认 (biànrèn) stresses recognizing/identifying a specific one. Note 辨 (discern), not 辩 (argue).
Example sentences
- 我的字迹难以辨别。 Wǒ de zìjì nányǐ biànbié.My handwriting is illegible.
- 我们无法辨别哪个更好。 Wǒmen wúfǎ biànbié nǎge gènghǎo.We can't tell which is better.
- 你能辨别小麦和大麦吗？ Nǐ néng biànbié xiǎomài hé dàmài ma?Can you tell wheat from barley?