fan1 dak1 ceot1分得出

Jyutpingfan1 dak1 ceot1

Yalefān dāk chēut

Definition

Able to tell apart or differentiate.

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How it's used

Focuses on the cognitive ability to distinguish between two or more similar things through observation. It is a resultative compound where the suffix 出 implies successfully extracting the difference from a confusing situation. It is frequently used in negative forms like 分唔出 to express an inability to tell things apart.

Examples

nei5你fan1分dak1得ceot1出bin1邊go3個hai6係go4哥go1哥bin1邊go3個hai6係sai3細lou2佬mei6未aa4呀？

Can you tell which one is the older brother and which one is the younger brother yet?

keoi5佢dei6哋loeng5兩go3個joeng2樣taai2太ci5似，ngo5我zan1真hai6係fan1分dak1得ceot1出wo5喎。

They look too similar, I really can tell them apart.

Common phrases

fan1分dak1得ceot1出hou2好waai6壞

able to tell good from bad

fan1分dak1得ceot1出zan1真gaa2假

able to distinguish real from fake

Common mistake

Learners often confuse this with 分開, which means to physically separate things or to break up a relationship. Use 分得出 when talking about mental recognition or identification, not physical division.