discern

Compared meaning: to notice or make out subtle differences (verb).

比较义项：辨别、看出细微差异或不明显的事物（动词）。

• distinguish

  Used when telling two or more particular things apart, often similar-looking people or items; typically followed by 'between' or a plural object; the more common everyday word.

  用于区分两个或多个具体事物（常指外表相似的人或物），后面常接表示“……之间”的结构或复数宾语；是日常口语中更常用的词。

  It can be hard to distinguish twins who look so similar.

  长得这么像的双胞胎，真的很难分辨。

• discern 本词

  Used when perceiving or making out something faint, obscure or subtle, often due to poor visibility; more formal, and does not require comparing two things.

  用于看出或察觉模糊、不明显、细微的事物，常因视线不佳而难以察觉；语气更正式，也不一定涉及两者的比较。

  It was hard to discern the road signs through the thick fog.

  浓雾弥漫，很难看清那些路标。

Both words can mean to tell things apart. Distinguish stresses telling two or more specific things apart, often in the pattern 'the difference between X and Y'. Discern stresses noticing something faint or unclear, using sight or judgment, without needing two things to compare.

这两个词都能译成“辨别”，但distinguish强调区分两个或多个具体事物之间的差异，句型常带“……和……之间的区别”；discern强调凭视觉或判断力看出模糊、不明显的事物，不一定涉及两者的比较。