What is the relationship between 辧, 辨, and 辦?

辧 is the historical precursor that later split into 辨 (to distinguish cognitively) and 辦 (to handle/manage actively).

Is 辧 commonly used in modern Chinese?

No, it is considered an archaic character and has been largely replaced by 辨 and 辦 in modern usage.

Would 辧 be suitable for a modern name?

Generally not recommended due to its archaic nature and potential for confusion, though it might appeal for its classical elegance in scholarly contexts.

辧Tone 4

biàn ｜ 16 strokes ｜ radical:

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辧 · biàn

To distinguish;

to differentiate;

to discriminate;

to handle;

to manage;

to deal with.

To distinguishto differentiateto discriminate

Usage highlights

To distinguishTo handle affairsTo manage a caseTo deal with public affairsTo argue a pointTo handle official business

Synonyms

辨— to distinguish; to differentiate
辦— to handle; to manage; to deal with
區分— to differentiate; to distinguish

Antonyms

混淆— to confuse; to mix up
模糊— blurred; ambiguous

Usage & contexts

Examples

We need to distinguish between right and wrong (辨別是非).
The lawyer handled the case (辧理案件).
It is difficult to distinguish the real from the fake (真偽難辧).

Collocations

To distinguish(辨別)
To handle affairs(辧事)
To manage a case(辧案)
To deal with public affairs(辧公)
To argue a point(辧論)
To handle official business(辧公務)

Idioms

Distinguishing right from wrong(明辨是非)
Able to distinguish the subtlest differences(辨析毫釐)
To argue until one is blue in the face(力辧不輟)

Cultural background

FAQ

This character is an older variant form of 辨 (to distinguish) and 辦 (to handle/manage), representing both concepts historically.
In modern usage, its functions have been largely divided between 辨 (cognitive distinction) and 辦 (active handling).
It appears in classical texts and historical documents, representing an important stage in the evolution of these related characters.

辧 (biàn) - To distinguish & to differentiate