间 jiān / jiàn — between; among; space; (measure word); interstice; separate
这个房间很干净。Zhè ge fáng jiān hěn gān jìng.This room is very clean.
Common words: 时间 (shí jiān)、房间 (fáng jiān)、中间 (zhōng jiān)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "separate"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "separate", including 间 (jiān / jiàn), 别 (bié / biè), 另 (lìng), 披 (pī). Study pinyin, English meanings…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "separate" covers 4 different Chinese characters — 间 (jiān / jiàn), 别 (bié / biè), 另 (lìng), 披 (pī) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 4 characters do not share a sound — their readings span jiān, jiàn, bié, biè, lìng, pī — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 间 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 间 jiān / jiànbetween; among; space; (measure word); interstice; separateUseful words: 时间, 房间
- 别 bié / bièleave; depart; separate; distinguish; classify; otherUseful words: 别人, 别的
- 另 lìngother; another; separate; separatelyUseful words: 另外, 另一方面
- 披 pīscatter; separate; to open; to unroll; to spread outUseful words: 披露, 披风
Common words for these 4 "separate" characters
Anchor each of these 4 characters in a word you can picture — start with 间 (jiān / jiàn) — so "separate" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
时间shí jiān(concept of) time; (duration of) time; (point in) time房间fáng jiānroom中间zhōng jiānthe middle; the inside; in the middle; within别人bié renother people; others; other person别的bié deelse; other特别tè biéunusual; special; very; especially另外lìng wàiadditional; in addition; besides; separate另一方面lìng yī fāng miànon the other hand; another aspect另一lìng yīanother ...; the other ...披露pī lùto reveal; to publish; to make public; to announce
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 4 ways to say "separate".
别 bié / biè — leave; depart; separate; distinguish; classify; other
上课的时候别说话。Shàng kè de shí hou bié shuō huà.Do not talk during class.
Common words: 别人 (bié ren)、别的 (bié de)、特别 (tè bié)
另 lìng — other; another; separate; separately
这件不好，请给我另一件。Zhè jiàn bù hǎo, qǐng gěi wǒ lìng yí jiàn.This one is not good; please give me another one.
Common words: 另外 (lìng wài)、另一方面 (lìng yī fāng miàn)、另一 (lìng yī)
披 pī — scatter; separate; to open; to unroll; to spread out
天冷了，他披上了一件厚外套。Tiān lěng le, tā pī shàng le yí jiàn hòu wài tào.It got cold, so he threw on a thick coat.
Common words: 披露 (pī lù)、披风 (pī fēng)、披红 (pī hóng)
All 4 characters
Open 间、别、另 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.