辨

A phono-semantic compound, consists of:

辛 (upper components) — historically related to sharpness or cutting;

刀 (knife radical component in ancient structure) — semantic hint.

Central phonetic structure related to 辡 / 辛 forms.

The character originally conveyed the idea of "cutting apart to separate."

Thus, the fundamental meaning was "to divide clearly; to distinguish by separation."

Semantic development:

- physical separation;

- intellectual discrimination;

- logical differentiation;

- analytical reasoning.

변별 (辨別) — discrimination; differentiation

식별 (識別) — identification

시비변론 (是非辨論) — debate on right and wrong

변명 (辨明) — clarification

辨 emphasizes:

- analytical distinction;

- cognitive discrimination.

It focuses on recognizing differences clearly, not merely separating or debating.

Related characters:

別 — separate

識 — recognize

判 — judge

辯 — debate

辮 — braid

Among these, 辨 most clearly expresses "intellectual discrimination and discernment."

Simplified form merges 辨 (distinguish), 辯 (debate), 辮 (braid) into 辩.

Classical usage:

明辨是非 — “Clearly distinguish right and wrong.”

不可不辨 — “It must not remain undistinguished.”