別 meaning and stroke order
To separate, to distinguish, to classify; to leave; other; do not, must not
How to write 別, stroke by stroke
7 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
Meaning of 別
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to leave; to part (from)
- (literary) to differentiate; to distinguish
- (dialect) to turn away; to turn aside; to avert (one's face, gaze etc)
- (bound form) other; another; different
- don't ...!
- to fasten with a pin or clip
How 別 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. To draw boundaries 刂 between classes 另.
Radical: 刂 (knife), shared by 71 characters on this site.
How to remember 別
別 combines 另 (lìng, another, separate) with the knife radical 刂. Picture a knife drawing a line between one group and another, which is how 別 comes to mean to separate, to distinguish, and other.
別 is most common as a quick command meaning don't, placed before a verb, as in 別走 (bié zǒu) don't go. It also means other in words like 別人 (biérén) and 別的 (biéde), and to part in 告別 (gàobié). Example: 別擔心。(Bié dānxīn.) Don't worry.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 別 (bié, don't) with 不 (bù, not). 別 gives a command or request, like 別說 (don't say it), while 不 simply negates, like 不說 (I won't say it). Also keep the left part as 另 when writing, not 口 plus 力 spaced apart.
Common words with 別
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 別人 | biérén | other people; others; other person | HSK 1 |
| 別的 | biéde | else; other | HSK 1 |
| 特別 | tèbié | unusual; special; very; especially; particularly | HSK 2 |
| 區別 | qūbié | difference; to distinguish | HSK 3 |
| 分別 | fēnbié | to part; to leave each other; to distinguish; to tell apart | HSK 3 |
| 告別 | gàobié | to leave; to part from; to bid farewell to; to say goodbye to | HSK 3 |
| 性別 | xìngbié | sex; gender | HSK 3 |
| 個別 | gèbié | individually; one by one; just one or two; exceptional; rare | HSK 4 |
| 差別 | chābié | difference; distinction; disparity | HSK 5 |
| 別說 | biéshuō | to say nothing of; not to mention; let alone | HSK 7-9 |
| 別看 | biékàn | don't be fooled by the fact that | HSK 7-9 |
| 別墅 | biéshù | villa | HSK 7-9 |
| 識別 | shíbié | to distinguish; to discern; to identify; to recognize | HSK 7-9 |
| 級別 | jíbié | (military) rank; level | HSK 7-9 |
Questions about 別
How many strokes are in 別?
別 is written with 7 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 別 mean?
別 (bié) means to separate, to distinguish, to classify; to leave; other; do not, must not. A common word with it is 别人 (biérén), meaning "other people; others; other person".
How do you pronounce 別?
別 is pronounced bié, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 別?
The radical of 別 is 刂, which carries the idea of "knife". Dictionaries list 別 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 別?
別 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 别, used in mainland China and Singapore.
What is the difference between 別 and 不要?
Both can mean don't in a command. 別 is shorter and more casual in speech, while 不要 (búyào) can sound slightly firmer. For example, 別哭 and 不要哭 both mean don't cry.
Does 別 have another pronunciation?
Yes. In 別扭 (bièniu), meaning awkward or difficult to get along with, it is read with fourth tone, biè. In almost all other words it is second tone, bié.