有别 (yǒu bié) — to be different; to differ

Definition

有别 (yǒu bié) is a more formal, written way to say two things 'differ' or 'are different' — often paired with 于 to mark the contrast point. Colloquial speech usually prefers 不一样 or 不同.

verb
to be differentto differ

Examples

  • 有别。
    Zhè liǎng zhǒng fāng fǎ yǒu bié.
    These two methods are different.
  • 。
    Tā de guān diǎn yǒu bié yú chuán tǒng kàn fǎ.
    His viewpoint differs from traditional views.
  • ？
    Zhè liǎng zhǒng zuò fǎ yǒu shén me bié?
    What difference is there between these two approaches?

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

有yǒuhave
别biédifference

有 means have and 别 means difference; together they mean to have differences.

Characters in this word

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
肉肉ròumeat
Sound part声符shēngfú
又
又yòu有yǒu
Same sound today

The form 有 combines 又, used for its sound, with a shape from 肉, 'meat'; the hand-holding-meat story is a folk explanation, not shown in the oldest shape.

Open 有 →

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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