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分别 (fēn bié) — (verb) to part, to say goodbye; (verb, noun) to distinguish, to tell apart; difference, distinction; (adverb) separately, respectively, differently

Definition

Three uses: 'to part / say goodbye' (e.g. 在机场分别); 'to distinguish / difference' (close to 区别 'difference' and 差别 'disparity'); and as an adverb 'separately, respectively' (close to 各个 'one by one'). 别 here is only the 'part' sense, not 'don't'.

verb
to partto say goodbye(verb, noun) to distinguishto tell apartdifferencedistinction
adverb
separatelyrespectivelydifferently

Examples

  • 分别。
    Wǒ men zài jī chǎng fēn bié le.
    We parted at the airport.
  • 分别？
    Nǐ néng fēn bié zhè liǎng zhī māo ma?
    Can you tell these two cats apart?
  • 分别。
    Tā men fēn bié huí dá le lǎo shī de wèn tí.
    They separately answered the teacher's questions.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

分fēndivide; separate
别biédistinguish; part

分 and 别 both involve separating or telling apart, giving parting, distinction, or separate ways.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

分 pairs 八 (to separate) with 刀 (knife), showing something cut apart with a knife.

Open 分 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 別; 别 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 別 pairs 冎 (bone) with 刀 (knife), showing a knife cutting up bone and flesh. The simplified 别 is a shorthand, so its parts are not the historical components.

Open 别 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5HSK 2.0 Level 5Communication & SpeechThinking & Cognition

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