别 meaning and stroke order
To leave; to part (from); (literary) to differentiate; to distinguish; (dialect) to turn away; to turn aside; to avert (one's face, gaze etc)
How to write 别, 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.
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Meaning of 别
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
- to make sb change their ways, opinions etc
How 别 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 别
别 combines 另 (lìng, another or separate) with the knife radical 刂. Picture a knife drawing a line to separate one thing from another, which gives the ideas of parting, difference, and other.
In everyday speech 别 most often means "don't" and goes right before a verb, like a softer 不要 (bú yào). It also means "other" in words like 别人 (biérén) and 别的 (biéde), and "to part" in words like 告别 (gàobié). Example: 别担心。(Bié dānxīn.) Don't worry.
Common mistake: Learners often write the left part as 力 or forget the 口 on top, but the left side is 另, which is 口 over 力. Also, 别 can't replace 不 for simple negation: say 我不去 (wǒ bú qù), not 我别去.
Common words with 别
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 别人 | biérén | other people; others; other person | HSK 1 |
| 别的 | biéde | else; other | HSK 1 |
| 特别 | tèbié | unusual; special; very; especially; particularly | HSK 2 |
| 区别 | qūbié | difference; to distinguish | HSK 3 |
| 分别 | fēnbié | to part; to leave each other; to distinguish; to tell apart | HSK 3 |
| 告别 | gàobié | to leave; to part from; to bid farewell to; to say goodbye to | HSK 3 |
| 性别 | xìngbié | sex; gender | HSK 3 |
| 个别 | gèbié | individually; one by one; just one or two; exceptional; rare | HSK 4 |
| 差别 | chābié | difference; distinction; disparity | HSK 5 |
| 别说 | biéshuō | to say nothing of; not to mention; let alone | HSK 7-9 |
| 别看 | biékàn | don't be fooled by the fact that | HSK 7-9 |
| 别墅 | biéshù | villa | HSK 7-9 |
| 识别 | shíbié | to distinguish; to discern; to identify; to recognize | HSK 7-9 |
| 级别 | jíbié | (military) rank; level | HSK 7-9 |
别 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 别
Learning 别 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 别
How many strokes are in 别?
别 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 别 mean?
别 (bié) means to leave; to part (from); (literary) to differentiate; to distinguish; (dialect) to turn away; to turn aside; to avert (one's face, gaze etc). A common word with it is 别人 (biérén), meaning "other people; others; other person".
How do you pronounce 别?
别 is pronounced bié, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 别?
The radical of 别 is 刂, which carries the idea of "knife". Dictionaries list 别 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 别?
The traditional form of 别 is 別 and 彆. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 别 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 别 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 别 is part of the HSK 1 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 1.
What is the difference between 别 and 不要?
Both can mean "don't" in commands, and they are often interchangeable. 别 is shorter and more common in casual speech, while 不要 can sound a bit more emphatic or formal. Only 不要 can also mean "not want", as in 我不要 (wǒ bú yào), I don't want it.
When is 别 pronounced biè instead of bié?
The fourth tone biè appears mainly in 别扭 (bièniu), meaning awkward or uncomfortable, and in the sense of making someone change their mind. In almost every other word it is second tone bié.