to distinguish
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to distinguish
To recognize a difference between two or more people or things and thereby tell them apart.
Ich kann die eineiigen Zwillinge nur an ihrer Stimme unterscheiden.
I can distinguish the identical twins only by their voices.
'Unterscheiden' (to distinguish) is an inseparable verb because the prefix 'unter-' is not stressed here. So the prefix always remains connected to the verb, even in a main clause.
Er unterschied die beiden Weine am Geruch.
He distinguished the two wines by their smell.
When you want to express what you are telling apart, use the structure 'etwas von etwas unterscheiden' (to distinguish something from something). The preposition 'von' is always followed by the dative.
Können Sie echtes Gold von einer Fälschung unterscheiden?
Can you distinguish real gold from a fake?
When something or someone is different, the verb is used reflexively: 'sich unterscheiden' (to differ). To name the difference, you often use the preposition 'durch' (by/through) with the accusative or 'in' (in) with the dative.
Die beiden Produkte unterscheiden sich nur im Preis.
The two products differ only in price.
In the meaning 'to just barely recognize something', 'unterscheiden' (to make out) is often combined with words that express difficulty. Typical are 'kaum' (hardly), 'schwer' (difficult), or the combination with 'nicht genau können' (not be able to exactly).
Es war so dunkel, dass ich sein Gesicht kaum unterscheiden konnte.
It was so dark that I could hardly make out his face.
to recognize / realize
'erkennen' and 'unterscheiden' can both mean that you perceive something correctly. The difference is in the focus. With 'erkennen', you mean that you identify a person or thing, or perceive it at all. With 'unterscheiden', you mean that you see differences between two or more things and do not confuse them. Learners can easily mix up the words because to distinguish something, you often first have to recognize it. If it is only about one person or thing, 'erkennen' usually fits. If two or more things are being compared, 'unterscheiden' fits better.
Ich kann die beiden Schlüssel nur an der Farbe unterscheiden.
I can tell the two keys apart only by their color.
Auf dem alten Foto erkennt er seinen Vater sofort.
In the old photo, he recognizes his father immediately.