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区别 (qū bié) — (noun) difference, distinction; (verb) to distinguish, to differentiate

Definition

区别 covers both the noun 'difference' and the verb 'to distinguish' — the everyday, all-purpose word at HSK 4. It is more general than the more formal 区分 or careful-examination words like 辨别/鉴别.

noun
differencedistinction
verb
to distinguishto differentiate
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 区别？
    Zhè liǎng gè cí yǒu shén me qū bié?
    What is the difference between these two words?
  • 区别？
    Nǐ néng qū bié zhè liǎng zhǒng yán sè ma?
    Can you distinguish these two colors?
  • 区别。
    Wǒ kàn bù chū liǎng zhāng zhào piàn de qū bié.
    I can't see the two photos.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

区qūseparate
别biédifferent

区 and 别 both carry the idea of separating or being different, so together they mean a distinction or to tell things apart.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 區; 区 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 區 is made from 匸 and 品; the simplified 区 is a shorthand.

Open 区 →

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
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