各别 (gè bié) — out of the ordinary; peculiar; eccentric; distinct; different; separate; individually; separately (adverbial)

Definition

各别 covers two distinct senses: 'eccentric/peculiar' (for unusual behavior) and 'separate/distinct' (for different cases treated apart). The second sense overlaps with the adverb 各别地 ('individually, separately').

adjective
out of the ordinarypeculiareccentricdistinctdifferentseparateindividuallyseparately (adverbial)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 各别，。
    Tā de xíng wéi hěn gè bié, dà jiā dōu jué de qí guài.
    His behavior is very peculiar; everyone finds it strange.
  • 各别，。
    Zhè liǎng gè wèn tí xìng zhì gè bié, bù néng hùn wéi yì tán.
    These two issues are distinct in nature and cannot be lumped together.
  • 各别。
    Wǒ men yào gè bié chǔ lǐ zhè xiē qíng kuàng.
    We need to handle these situations individually.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

各gèeach
别biédifferent

各 and 别 both point to distinctness, giving a sense of peculiar or separate.

Characters in this word

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

各 shows a sole of a foot (夂) coming into an entrance (口), for the sense of coming or entering.

Open 各 →

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 →

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