Definition
分清 is a resultative verb compound (动结式) made from 分 'to separate' and 清 'clear'. It means 'to distinguish clearly' or 'to tell apart'. As a separable verb (离合词), you can insert 得 or 不 between 分 and 清 to express possibility or impossibility: 分得清 ('can distinguish') and 分不清 ('cannot distinguish'). The object usually follows the whole compound, or you can place it between the two parts in question patterns.
r.v.
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 hóngsè hé lǜsè ma?Can you tell red and green apart?
- 。Wǒ fēn bù qīng nǎge shì tā de shēngyīn.I can't tell which one is his voice.
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