判はん別べつがつく

Meanings

1

expression, godan verb (-ku)

Used when one can perceive a difference or identify something, often in contexts where it is difficult to tell things apart.

この二ふたつの色いろの違ちがいは、私わたしには判はん別べつがつかない。
I can't tell the difference between these two colors.

霧きり

が

濃こ

く

て

、

遠とお

く

の

建たて

物もの

の

判はん

別べつ

が

つか

なかっ

た

。

The fog was so thick I couldn't make out the distant buildings.

Written forms

判はん別べつがつく
Standard kanji spelling.
判はん別べつが付つく
Alternate kanji spelling using 付く.

Kanji

判judgement, judgment, signature
別separate, branch off, diverge
付adhere, attach, refer to

Similar words

見み分わける
見分ける is a transitive verb meaning to distinguish by looking, while 判別がつく is an intransitive expression focusing on the ability to distinguish.
区く別べつがつく
区別がつく is similar but often used for distinguishing categories or types, while 判別がつく can imply a more perceptual or judgment-based discernment.

Etymology

Compound of 判別 (discernment, distinction) + が + つく (to be attached, to be established). The つく here is the intransitive counterpart of 付ける, expressing that a distinction becomes apparent or is established.