Korean word

구별하다

Pronunciation

Romanizationkubyeolhada

Meaning

  • verbdistinguish

Example

색깔이 비슷해서 구별하기가 어려워요.saek kka ri pi seu tae seo ku byeol ha gi ga eo ryeo wo yo

It is hard to distinguish them because the colors are similar.

Illustration for 구별하다 (distinguish)

More examples

소리만으로는 사람을 구별하기가 어렵다.so ri ma neu ro neun sa ra meul ku byeol ha gi ga eo ryeop tta

It is difficult to distinguish people by sound alone.

Core concept

Two things are viewed side by side, and their noticeable features show how they differ.

Common phrases

  • 구별하기가 어렵다ku byeol ha gi ga eo ryeop tta

    be difficult to distinguish

  • 구별하기가 쉽다ku byeol ha gi ga swip tta

    be easy to distinguish

  • 구별해 주세요ku byeol hae chu se yo

    Please distinguish

Similar words

구분하다kubunhada: To divide things into distinct categories based on a chosen feature or rule.
분간하다punganhada: To tell similar things apart by using the senses or past experience.

Definition in Korean

사물이나 상황의 성질이나 특징을 근거로 서로 달리 판별하거나 구분하는 동사이다.sa mu ri na sang hwang ui seong ji ri na teuk jjing eul keun geo ro seo ro tal li pan byeol ha geo na ku bun ha neun tong sa i da

Word origin

The word is a Sino-Korean formation in which a noun meaning distinction combines with the productive verb-forming element meaning do.

Usage tips

  • For TOPIK reading, nearby words about color, shape, or behavior often show which features support the judgment, so they reveal what is being compared.

Opposites

  • 혼동하다hondonghadaconfuseverb
  • 동일시하다tongilssihadaequateverb

Related words

Word lists with this word