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.
to differ
To be different from something or someone else; to have features that do not match.
Die beiden Modelle unterscheiden sich hauptsächlich durch den Preis.
The two models differ mainly in price.
to make out
To perceive or recognize something with the senses (sight, hearing), even though it is difficult.
Im dichten Nebel konnte man kaum die Umrisse des Schiffes unterscheiden.
In the thick fog, you could hardly make out the outline of the ship.
'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
In poor visibility, both verbs can describe perceiving a figure. erkennen additionally means identifying the figure as a person you know; unterscheiden, by contrast, emphasizes telling different figures apart. erkennen fits a known person, while unterscheiden fits comparing several shapes.
Im Nebel konnte ich die beiden Gestalten kaum unterscheiden.
I could barely distinguish the two figures in the fog.
Im Nebel konnte ich die Gestalt meines Bruders erkennen.
I could recognize my brother's figure in the fog.
