How to write 别 (bié, “to leave”)

别, an HSK 2 character, is read bié for “to leave” and “other”, and also biè (“to make sb change their ways”). It is HSK 2 in the 2025 syllabus, up from level 1 in the 2021 standard. The traditional form is 別. On its own it is an HSK 2 word; it also forms 别人 (“other people”), 别的 (“else”) and 特别 (“unusual”). Japanese keeps the traditional 別, read betsu (“separate”).

Pinyin: bié, biè
Strokes: 7
HSK: 2
Radical: 刂 (“knife”)
Traditional: 別

Stroke by stroke

As a left-right character it splits into 另 (“other”), strokes 1–5; 刂 (“knife”, the radical), strokes 6–7, written the left part first.

top leftdownwards
top leftrightwards → down and right → down and left
leftrightwards
leftrightwards → downwards
leftdown and left
topdownwards
top rightdownwards → leftwards

Names of the strokes

Traditional form

Simplified: 别 · 7 strokes
Traditional: 別 · 7 strokes · see its strokes

Simplified vs traditional

Trace it

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Pinyin and meaning

Pinyin	Meanings	Traditional	In words
bié second tone	to leave; to part (from); (bound form) other; another; different; don't ...!; to fasten with a pin or clip; to stick in; to insert (in order to hinder movement)	別	别人别的特别区别
biè fourth tone	to make sb change their ways, opinions etc	—	—

HSK 2025 syllabus: level 2
2021 standard: level 1
HSK 2.0: in a level 2 word
Words with it: 131 in CC-CEDICT

Words with 别

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
别別	bié	to leave; to part HSK 2
别人別人	biérén	other people; others HSK 3
别的別的	biéde	else; other HSK 3
特别特別	tèbié	unusual; special HSK 3
区别區別	qūbié	difference; to distinguish HSK 4
个别個別	gèbié	individually; one by one HSK 5
分别分別	fēnbié	to part; to leave each other HSK 5
告别告別	gàobié	to leave; to part from HSK 5
差别差別	chābié	difference; distinction HSK 5
识别識別	shíbié	to distinguish; to discern HSK 6

HSK words first (CC-CEDICT).

Practice sheet

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Keep going

HSK 2, in list order: