Definition

1. Transitive Verb:
   • To distinguish clearly, to differentiate precisely, to make a clear distinction: The act of separating or setting things apart based on their distinct characteristics, often to understand or clarify differences.
   • To discern, to discriminate (in the neutral sense of perceiving differences): To recognize or identify the subtle or fundamental differences between two or more items, concepts, or categories.

Usage Examples

• Transitive Verb:
  • Chúng ta cần khu biệt giữa nguyên nhân và hậu quả. (We need to clearly distinguish between cause and effect.)
  • Anh ấy có khả năng khu biệt các loại đá quý rất tinh tế. (He has the ability to discern different types of gemstones very subtly.)
  • Khu biệt phải trái là điều cơ bản trong đạo đức. (Making a clear distinction between right and wrong is fundamental in ethics.)

Advanced Usage

• Used in formal, academic, or philosophical contexts: The word is often employed in discussions involving analysis, logic, ethics, or classification where precise separation of concepts is required.
  • Trong triết học, việc khu biệt các khái niệm là rất quan trọng. (In philosophy, distinguishing concepts clearly is very important.)

Variants and Related Words

• Phân biệt (v): To distinguish, to differentiate. (A more common and general synonym).
• Khu biệt hóa (v): To specialize, to differentiate into distinct types. (This is a compound/derived term involving 'khu biệt').
• Biệt (as a root): Implies separation, distinction.

Synonyms

• Phân biệt: To distinguish.
• Chia tách: To separate, to split.
• Nhận diện sự khác biệt: To identify the difference.

Related Phrases (Collocations)

• Khu biệt thị phi: To clearly distinguish between right and wrong (lit. "right" and "is"/"wrong" and "non-").
• Khu biệt đúng sai: To clearly distinguish between correct and incorrect.
• Khu biệt ranh giới: To demarcate a boundary clearly.

1. Make a clear distinction
   • Khu biệt phải trái
     To make a clear distinction between right and wrong