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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#10380DifficultyHard
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
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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.
Memory Mnemonic
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.
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.
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.
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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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.
She wore a little nurse's hat on her head to identify her.
10
孩子开始时不太能辨别语言中的差别。
hái zǐ kāi shǐ shí bù tài néng biàn bié yǔ yán zhōng de chà bié。
The child'll start out by making relatively few distinctions in the language.
Cultural Notes for 辨
🏮Cultural insight
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.
Word Family of 辨
Words Containing This Character15
分辨fēnbiànto distinguish
辨认biànrènto recognize辨認
分辨率resolution (of images, monitors, scanners etc)
辨biànto distinguish
辨别biànbiéto differentiate辨別
辨识identification辨識
辨证to investigate辨證
辨析to discriminate
明辨是非to distinguish right and wrong (idiom)
辨证论治holistic diagnosis and treatment (TCM)辨證論治
辨证施治diagnosis and treatment based on an overall analysis of the illness and the patient's condition辨證施治
辨明to clarify
真假难辨hard to distinguish real from imitation真假難辨
真伪莫辨not to know whether to believe (what one reads in the news)真偽莫辨
不辨菽麦lit. cannot tell beans from wheat (idiom); fig. ignorant of practical matters不辨菽麥
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 分辨 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 辨
You can say, '我们需要辨别这个问题的不同方面,' meaning 'We need to distinguish the different aspects of this issue.'
It is more commonly used in formal or written contexts, rather than casual spoken language.
Synonyms include 识别 (shí bié, to identify) and 辩 (biàn, to argue or debate), depending on the context.
