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March 24, 2026
辨biàn(bian4)
The character 辨 (biàn) means 'to distinguish' or 'to recognize.' It is often used in contexts where one needs to identify differences between similar items or concepts, such as in discussions about discrimination or decision-making. This character emphasizes the act of discernment and clarity in perception.
Strokes16Radical辛Frequency#10380DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese philosophy, the ability to 辨 is often linked to wisdom and discernment, which are valued traits in Confucian teachings. This character reflects the importance of understanding and differentiating between right and wrong in moral contexts.
Memory Tip
Imagine a pair of binoculars (the radical 辶 suggests movement) helping you to distinguish between two objects far away. The sound 'biàn' resembles 'be aware,' reminding you to recognize the differences clearly as you look through them.
Meanings of 辨
biàn(bian4)
1to distinguish
2to recognize
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 辨
辨Simplified
16Strokes
辛Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#10380Frequency Rank
Podcast: 辨
Podcast: 辨
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AI Study Notes for 辨
Quick Contrast
区分 (qūfēn) vs 辨 (biàn): Use 区分 when emphasizing the act of categorizing or separating items into distinct groups, while 辨 focuses more on the discernment and recognition of differences.
Usage Notes
Beware of confusing 辨 with similar characters such as 辱 (rǔ, to insult) or 变 (biàn, to change). This word is generally used in formal contexts, especially in academic or analytical discussions. Common collocations include 辨别 (biàn bié, to distinguish) and 辨认 (biàn rèn, to recognize).
HSK Study Tips
Although 辨 is not included in the official HSK levels, it is useful for students aiming for advanced proficiency. It connects well with other words related to perception and differentiation, such as 判断 (pàn duàn, to judge) and 识别 (shí bié, to identify). Focus on the nuances of its usage in various contexts.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 辨 with 辩, leading to incorrect usage in contexts requiring 'to argue' rather than 'to distinguish.' For example, saying '我们需要辩这个问题' (We need to argue this issue) should be corrected to '我们需要辨这个问题.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 辨
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2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
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Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 辨?
Decomposition of 辨
IDS Structure⿲辛刂辛
辨Full Character
=
辛Xin1
left
刂dao1
middle
辛Xin1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 辨?
How to say to distinguish in Chinese
“to distinguish” in Chinese is辨biàn
The character 辨 (biàn) means 'to distinguish' or 'to recognize.' It is often used in contexts where one needs to identify differences between similar items or concepts, such as in discussions about discrimination or decision-making. This character emphasizes the act of discernment and clarity in perception.
When to use 辨
Beware of confusing 辨 with similar characters such as 辱 (rǔ, to insult) or 变 (biàn, to change). This word is generally used in formal contexts, especially in academic or analytical discussions. Common collocations include 辨别 (biàn bié, to distinguish) and 辨认 (biàn rèn, to recognize).
辨 or something close to it
区分 (qūfēn) vs 辨 (biàn): Use 区分 when emphasizing the act of categorizing or separating items into distinct groups, while 辨 focuses more on the discernment and recognition of differences.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 辨 with 辩, leading to incorrect usage in contexts requiring 'to argue' rather than 'to distinguish.' For example, saying '我们需要辩这个问题' (We need to argue this issue) should be corrected to '我们需要辨这个问题.'
Write 辨
辨
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Practice writing 辨 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 辨
辨 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
