判はん別べつがつく

expression, godan verb (-ku)

distinguish; discern; tell apart

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.