отличаться vs различать
otlichatsya vs razlichat — differ/be distinguished vs distinguish/tell apart
Register: neutral
What it really means
Отличаться is reflexive and intransitive: things differ from one another, commonly with от plus genitive or друг от друга. Различать is transitive and means distinguish or tell apart, taking the objects in the accusative; it can also mean discern a sound or detail. The first describes a difference, the second performs the act of noticing it.
Examples in natural speech
Эти модели отличаются от прошлогодних.
These models differ from last year's.
Близнецы почти не отличаются друг от друга.
The twins hardly differ from each other.
Я не различаю эти оттенки.
I cannot distinguish these shades.
Она научилась различать голоса птиц.
She learned to tell bird calls apart.
Новый метод отличается большей точностью.
The new method differs by greater accuracy.
Common mistakes
Do not say я отличаю эти два цвета when you mean “I can tell them apart”; use я различаю эти цвета. Conversely, objects отличаются от чего-то, not usually различаются от in this basic contrast; also remember от takes the genitive.
Memory tip
Отличаться describes the gap; различать is your eye or ear crossing it.
Frequently asked questions
What construction follows отличаться?
Отличаться от plus genitive is standard: отличаться от оригинала; друг от друга is used for mutual comparison.
What case follows различать?
It is transitive and takes the accusative: различать цвета, голоса, добро и зло.
Can отличаться be used with a feature?
Yes: отличаться высокой точностью means “be distinguished by high accuracy,” with the feature commonly in the instrumental.
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