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見分ける (みわける) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N2 Freq. Frequency Top 20,000 Conjugation Meanings 1
ichidan verb, transitive verb
distinguish ; tell apart ; recognize
Used when visually or perceptually identifying differences between similar things, or recognizing something among others. Often implies careful observation.
にせ
物もの
を
見み
分わ
ける
こと
が
できる
。
He can distinguish the real thing from a fake.
Written forms 見み 分わ ける Usage 91%
Standard kanji spelling; high-frequency news and spec priority.
見み わける Usage 7%
Mixed kana-kanji variant; less common but still encountered.
みわける Usage 2%
Kanji 分 part, minute of time, segment Similar words 区く 別べつ する 区別する is a more general 'distinguish/differentiate' often used for abstract categories, while 見分ける emphasizes visual or perceptual recognition.
識しき 別べつ する 識別する is more formal and technical, often used in contexts like pattern recognition or identification systems.
Etymology Compound of 見る (miru, 'to see') + 分ける (wakeru, 'to divide/separate'). Literally 'to see and separate', referring to visually distinguishing things.
