distinguish

vt. 区分；辨别；使杰出，使表现突出

vi. 区别，区分；辨别

中文词源

distinguish 区分

dis-, 分开，散开。-sting, 刺，做标记，词源同sting, stick. 即分开标记的，区分清楚的。

distinguish (v.): 1560s, from Middle French distinguiss-, stem of distinguer, or directly from Latin distinguere "to separate between, keep separate, mark off, distinguish," perhaps literally "separate by pricking," from dis- "apart" (see dis-) + -stinguere "to prick" (compare extinguish and Latin instinguere "to incite, impel").

Watkins says "semantic transmission obscure;" the sense might be from "pricking out" as the old way to make punctuation in parchment or some literal image, but de Vaan derives the second element from a different PIE root meaning "to push, thrust."
The meanings of ex- and restinguere 'to extinguish' and distinguere seem quite distinct, but can be understood if the root meant 'to press' or 'push': ex-stinguere 'to put a fire out', re-stinguere 'to push back, suppress', and dis-stinguere 'to push apart [thence] distinguish, mark off ...."
The suffix -ish is due to the influence of many verbs in which it is the equivalent of Old French -iss-, ultimately from Latin inchoative suffix -iscere (this is also the case in extinguish, admonish, and astonish). Related: Distinguishing. The earlier form of the verb was distinguen (mid-14c.).

1. dis- "apart" + stingu- + -ish.2. => separate by pricking.3. => separate, discriminate.4. sting(谐音“死叮”) => stingu- "prick, pierce".5. 词根：谐音“死叮”。

1. It is common to distinguish between personal and social ethics.: 个人道德准则和社会道德准则常常不一致。

2. It is necessary to distinguish the policies of two successive governments.: 分清前后两届政府的政策很有必要。

3. There were cries, calls. He could distinguish voices.: 有哭声、喊声——他能听出不同的声音。

4. At what age are children able to distinguish between right and wrong?: 儿童到什么年龄才能明辨是非？

5. It is not easy to distinguish cultured pearls from genuine pearls.: 辨别真正的珍珠与养殖的珍珠不容易.