How to say "distinguish" in Japanese

• 見分けるみわけるCommon
  ichidan verb, transitive verbCovers the basic perceptual sense of 'distinguish': telling apart things that look alike and recognizing which is which, often by sight. Typical when telling twins apart or spotting a counterfeit.
  彼かれと彼かれの兄あにを見分みわけるのは簡単かんたんだ。↗

  It is easy to tell him from his brother.
• わきまえるCommon
  ichidan verb, transitive verbSeldom the word you want for 'distinguish' between similar things; it really means to discern what is right or proper, as in right from wrong, and is usually written in kana alone.

Use 「見分ける」 for telling similar things apart by observation; 「わきまえる」 is for discerning what is right or proper, and is seldom the natural choice for 'distinguish' between concrete things.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 見分けるみわけるto distinguish
• わきまえるto discern (e.g. right from wrong)
• 特色づけるとくしょくづけるto distinguish
• 判別がつくはんべつがつくto distinguish
• 噛み分けるかみわけるto taste
• 見分けがつくみわけがつくto be able to tell apart
• 区別がつくくべつがつくto tell X from Y
• けじめをつけるto draw a line (between)
• 一線を画するいっせんをかくするto draw a line (between)
• 聞き分けるききわけるto recognize (by sound)
• 弁ずるべんずるto manage
• 弁じるべんじるto speak
• 分けるわけるto distinguish
• 分かつわかつto distinguish
• 切り分けるきりわけるto distinguish (e.g. facets of a problem)
• 差をつけるさをつけるto distinguish (between)