Meaning of 区别
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- difference
- to distinguish
- to discriminate
- to make a distinction
Measure word: 個|个
How to use 区别
区别 works as a noun meaning "difference" and as a verb meaning "to distinguish." As a noun it often appears in the pattern A和B有什么区别 or 没有区别. Example: 这两个词有什么区别？(Zhè liǎng gè cí yǒu shénme qūbié?) What is the difference between these two words?
区 (qū) means an area or zone, like in 地区 (dìqū), and 别 (bié) means to separate or set apart, as in 分别 (fēnbié). Put them together: dividing things into separate zones is how you tell them apart.
Common mistake: Learners often say 区别 when they mean "different" as an adjective. 区别 is a noun or verb, so say 这两个不一样 (bù yīyàng) or 不同 (bùtóng) for "these two are different," not 这两个很区别.
区别 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
区 qū · area · 4 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
别 bié · to leave · 7 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
Related words
Words that share a character with 区别.
| 别人 | biérén | other people; others; other person |
| 别的 | biéde | else; other |
| 特别 | tèbié | unusual; special; very; especially; particularly |
| 地区 | dìqū | region; area (informal or geographical term); prefecture (in China's administrative system |
| 分别 | fēnbié | to part; to leave each other; to distinguish; to tell apart |
| 告别 | gàobié | to leave; to part from; to bid farewell to; to say goodbye to |
| 性别 | xìngbié | sex; gender |
| 市区 | shìqū | urban district; downtown |
| 个别 | gèbié | individually; one by one; just one or two; exceptional; rare |
| 区域 | qūyù | area; region |
| 社区 | shèqū | community; neighborhood |
| 差别 | chābié | difference; distinction; disparity |
Questions about 区别
What does 区别 mean?
区别 (qūbié) means "difference; to distinguish" and is used as a noun and verb.
How do you write 区别?
区别 is made of 2 characters: 区 (4 strokes), 别 (7 strokes). That is 11 strokes in total.
Is 区别 an HSK word?
Yes. 区别 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 区别 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 区别 is written 區別.
What is the difference between 区别 and 分别?
Both can mean "to distinguish," but 区别 is the common word for "a difference" as a noun. 分别 also means "to part from someone" or "separately," as in 分别做 (do separately), which 区别 cannot mean.
How do I use 区别 as a verb with two things?
Use the pattern 区别A和B, for example 区别真假 (qūbié zhēn jiǎ), to tell real from fake. You can also say 很难区别 (hěn nán qūbié), it is hard to tell apart.