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分清 (fēn qīng) — to distinguish clearly; to tell apart; to draw a clear line between

Definition

A result verb: successfully telling two similar things apart (truth from false, voices, colors). Focuses on the OUTCOME of distinguishing; often used in potential complements (分得清 / 分不清).

verb
to distinguish clearlyto tell apartto draw a clear line between

Examples

  • 分清。
    Tā hěn nán fēn qīng zhēn jiǎ.
    He finds it hard to distinguish truth from falsehood.
  • ？
    Nǐ fēn de qīng hóng sè hé lǜ sè ma?
    Can you tell red and green apart?
  • 。
    Wǒ fēn bù qīng nǎ ge shì tā de shēng yīn.
    I can't tell which one is his voice.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

分fēndistinguish
清qīngclear

分 means distinguish, 清 means clear, together giving to tell apart clearly.

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 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
青
青qīng清qīng
Same sound today

清 has 氵 (water) on the left and 青 on the right to show its sound.

Open 清 →
Appears in
Thinking & Cognition

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