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변별력

B2 noun #7,500 most common 10 min read

변별력

byeonbyeollyeok Top 7,500

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 변별력 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 변별력 in your Level:

At the A1 level, '변별력' (byeon-byeol-lyeok) is a very difficult word because it is an academic term. However, you can think of it as 'the power to see what is different.' Imagine you have two apples. One is red and one is green. You can see the difference because you have this 'power.' In Korea, children learn to tell the difference between shapes or colors. This is the start of '변별력.' You won't use this word in daily life yet, but you might see it in a school book. It comes from three parts: 'Byeon' (see), 'Byeol' (different), and 'Lyeok' (power). Just remember it means 'seeing the difference.' It is mostly used for tests in Korea. If a test is good, it can see who studied hard and who did not. That is called 'high 변별력.' If a test is too easy, it has 'low 변별력.' This is a very important word for Korean students.

At the A2 level, you can start to understand that '변별력' is used when talking about exams or skills. In Korea, everyone cares about grades. When a teacher makes a test, they want to know who is the best student. To do this, they need '변별력.' It is the 'ability to distinguish.' You can use it like this: '이 시험은 변별력이 있어요' (This test has the power to distinguish). You might also hear it when talking about products. If you go to a store and see two phones, you look for '변별력'—the special thing that makes one phone better than the other. It’s a formal noun. You don't usually say 'I have byeon-byeol-lyeok' for simple things like food. You use it for important things like tests, vision, or professional skills. It is a 'Level 2' way to say 'difference-finding power.'

At the B1 level, you should recognize '변별력' as a key term in Korean society, especially in education and business. It refers to 'discriminatory power'—not in a bad way, but in a technical way. In education, it describes how well an exam can separate students into different rank levels. If a test is too easy, Koreans say it lacks '변별력,' meaning it's unfair to the students who studied more. In business, it refers to a product's 'competitive distinction.' For example, '우리 제품은 디자인에서 변별력을 갖추고 있습니다' (Our product has a distinction in design). You should notice how it combines with verbs like '갖추다' (to possess) and '확보하다' (to secure). It’s an essential word for reading Korean news or participating in office meetings where performance and quality are discussed.

At the B2 level, you are expected to use '변별력' accurately in professional and academic contexts. You understand that it is a measure of an assessment's validity. In the context of the CSAT (Suneung), '변별력 확보' (securing discriminatory power) is a major government goal every year. You can also use it to describe human perception, such as a musician's '변별력' in hearing subtle pitch changes. It is a sophisticated way to discuss 'differentiation.' You should be able to distinguish it from '차별' (prejudice/discrimination) and '식별' (identification). For example, while '식별' is about recognizing an object, '변별력' is about the capacity of a system to rank or categorize based on quality or difficulty. Using this word correctly shows you understand the competitive and meritocratic nuances of Korean culture.

At the C1 level, '변별력' becomes a tool for nuanced analysis. You use it to discuss the psychometric properties of an evaluation tool or the strategic positioning of a brand in a saturated market. You might analyze how the 'Killer Questions' in the Suneung are necessary for '변별력' but also create social inequality. You can use the word metaphorically to describe a person's judgment or critical thinking skills. For instance, '그는 진실과 거짓을 가려내는 날카로운 변별력을 가지고 있다' (He has a sharp ability to distinguish between truth and lies). You also understand its Hanja roots deeply, allowing you to see its connection to words like '판별' (judgment) and '선별' (selection). At this level, you don't just know the definition; you understand the social weight the word carries in a society obsessed with ranking and objective assessment.

At the C2 level, you master '변별력' as a fundamental concept in epistemology, statistics, and social theory. You can engage in high-level debates about whether '변별력' in standardized testing truly measures intelligence or merely the ability to solve complex puzzles. You understand its role in machine learning—how 'discriminative models' rely on '변별력' to classify high-dimensional data. You can use the term in legal arguments regarding the '변별력' of evidence or the '변별 능력' (capacity for discernment) of a defendant. Your usage is indistinguishable from a native academic or policy-maker. You recognize that '변별력' is a double-edged sword: a prerequisite for fairness in a meritocracy, yet a driver of the intense educational 'arms race' in Korea. You use the word with full awareness of its technical precision and its broad socio-cultural implications.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

변별력 in 30 Seconds

변별력 means the ability to distinguish differences, especially in tests to rank students.
It is a key term in Korean education (Suneung) and competitive business marketing.
Commonly paired with '확보하다' (secure), '갖추다' (possess), and '높이다' (increase).
It is a technical/formal noun, not used for casual everyday small differences.

The Korean word 변별력 (Byeon-byeol-lyeok) is a sophisticated noun that translates most directly to "discriminatory power" or "the ability to distinguish." While in English the word "discrimination" often carries a negative social connotation, in Korean, 변별력 is a neutral and highly valued technical term used to describe the capacity to tell things apart based on specific criteria. It is most famously associated with the South Korean education system, particularly the Suneung (CSAT), where it refers to the test's ability to separate top-tier students from mid-tier students through varying levels of difficulty. Without 변별력, a test is considered a failure because it doesn't provide a clear ranking of ability.

Educational Context: In schools and academies, teachers constantly worry about the 변별력 of their exams. If a test is too easy, everyone gets a perfect score, and the test loses its purpose of ranking students for university admissions. This leads to the creation of 'killer questions' (킬러 문항) specifically designed to test the 변별력 of the top 1%.
Business and Marketing: When a company launches a product in a crowded market, they need 변별력. This refers to the product's unique selling points (USP) that allow consumers to distinguish it from competitors. It’s about standing out and being recognizably different.
Psychology and Perception: In scientific terms, 변별력 describes the human senses. For example, a wine expert has a high 변별력 for subtle notes of oak or fruit that an average person might miss. It is the acuity of one's perception.

"이번 수능은 변별력 확보를 위해 수학 영역이 다소 어렵게 출제되었습니다."
(This CSAT had a somewhat difficult math section to ensure discriminatory power.)

Understanding this word requires looking at its Hanja (Chinese characters): 辨 (Byeon) means to distinguish, 別 (Byeol) means to separate, and 力 (Lyeok) means power or force. Together, they form the concept of the 'force required to separate and distinguish.' In a society as competitive as Korea, where ranking is often a prerequisite for progress, this word appears daily in news headlines, especially during the autumn exam season. It is not just a word; it is a structural necessity for maintaining the meritocratic hierarchy in Korean society.

"우리 회사의 신제품은 디자인 면에서 확실한 변별력을 갖추고 있습니다."
(Our company's new product has a clear competitive distinction in terms of design.)

Furthermore, 변별력 is used in the context of artificial intelligence and machine learning. An algorithm's ability to distinguish between a cat and a dog is its 변별력. High accuracy in facial recognition software is a result of high 변별력. In legal contexts, it can refer to the ability of a witness to distinguish details under pressure. It is a versatile term that bridges the gap between technical assessment and everyday competitive logic. By mastering this word, you gain insight into how Koreans evaluate quality, fairness, and uniqueness across various domains of life.

Using 변별력 correctly involves understanding that it is a noun that often functions as the subject or object of a sentence involving evaluation, comparison, or perception. It is frequently paired with verbs like 갖추다 (to possess/be equipped with), 확보하다 (to secure), 높이다 (to raise), or 잃다 (to lose). Because it is a formal and technical term, you will mostly see it in professional, academic, or journalistic settings.

Verb Pairing: 확보하다 (To Secure): This is common in education news. "The Ministry of Education is trying to secure the 변별력 of the exam." (교육부는 시험의 변별력을 확보하기 위해 노력하고 있다.)
Verb Pairing: 갖추다 (To Possess/Equip): Used when a person or product has the quality of being distinct. "To survive in the job market, you must possess 변별력." (취업 시장에서 살아남으려면 자신만의 변별력을 갖추어야 한다.)
Verb Pairing: 떨어지다/낮다 (To Fall/Be Low): Used when something fails to distinguish differences. "If the test is too easy, the 변별력 drops." (시험이 너무 쉬우면 변별력이 떨어진다.)

"AI 기술의 핵심은 대량의 데이터 사이에서 유의미한 패턴을 찾아내는 변별력에 있습니다."
(The core of AI technology lies in the discriminatory power to find meaningful patterns among massive data.)

In a sentence, 변별력 often acts as a standard of quality. For example, if you are writing a resume, you might want to show how your skills have 변별력 compared to other candidates. In this case, you are using the word to mean "competitive edge" or "uniqueness." In a scientific report, 변별력 might refer to the sensitivity of a sensor. If a sensor can't tell the difference between 20.1 degrees and 20.2 degrees, it lacks 변별력.

"시력 검사표의 가장 아랫줄은 시력의 변별력을 측정하기 위한 것입니다."
(The bottom line of the eye chart is to measure the discriminatory power of one's vision.)

Consider the following grammatical structures: 1) [Noun] + 의 + 변별력 (The discriminatory power of [Noun]). 2) 변별력을 + [Verb] (To [Verb] the discriminatory power). 3) 변별력이 + [Adjective] (The discriminatory power is [Adjective]). By following these patterns, you can construct complex thoughts about evaluation and quality control. Whether you are discussing the fairness of a national exam or the resolution of a new 8K television, 변별력 provides the necessary linguistic precision to describe the capacity for differentiation.

You will encounter 변별력 in environments where high stakes and precise measurements are involved. It is a staple of the Korean evening news, educational consulting offices, and corporate strategy meetings. If you are living in Korea, you will likely hear it most frequently during the months of October and November, when the national college entrance exam (Suneung) dominates the public discourse.

News Broadcasts (뉴스): News anchors often use the term when reporting on exam results. They might say, "이번 불수능은 상위권 학생들 사이에서도 확실한 변별력을 보였습니다" (This 'Fire Suneung' [very hard test] showed clear discriminatory power even among top-tier students).
Tech Reviews (테크 리뷰): When reviewers compare cameras or displays, they discuss 변별력 in color reproduction. A high-end monitor has the 변별력 to show the difference between deep black and near-black, which a cheap monitor might just show as one solid color.
Job Interviews (면접): Interviewers look for candidates who have 변별력. They want to see what makes you different from the thousands of other applicants with similar grades. A unique portfolio provides that 변별력.

"입시 전문가들은 이번 시험의 변별력이 작년보다 높아졌다고 분석했습니다."
(Entrance exam experts analyzed that the discriminatory power of this test has increased compared to last year.)

In schools, students often use the word when discussing their grades with peers. A student might complain, "그 문제는 변별력이 너무 없었어. 공부 안 한 애들도 다 맞혔잖아!" (That question had no discriminatory power. Even the kids who didn't study got it right!). This reflects a common sentiment in Korean culture where hard work is expected to yield a distinct advantage. If a system fails to provide that advantage through lack of 변별력, it is seen as unfair.

Finally, in the legal and medical fields, 변별력 is used to describe the clarity of evidence or the precision of a diagnosis. A medical test with high 변별력 can accurately distinguish between two similar diseases. In court, a piece of evidence with high 변별력 can clearly prove or disprove a claim. In all these contexts, the word signifies the quality of being able to make a meaningful, accurate distinction in a world full of noise and similarity.

While 변별력 is a useful word, its technical nature makes it prone to misuse by learners. The most common errors involve confusing it with other words for "difference" or using it in contexts where a more casual word would be appropriate. Here are the pitfalls to avoid:

Mistake 1: Confusing with 차별 (Chabyeol): In English, "discrimination" can mean both technical distinction and social prejudice. In Korean, these are strictly separated. 변별력 is the technical ability to distinguish (positive/neutral), while 차별 is social discrimination (negative). Never use 변별력 to talk about racism or sexism.
Mistake 2: Using it for Simple Differences: If you want to say "I can't see the difference between these two shirts," don't say "변별력이 없어요." That sounds like you are talking about the shirts' inherent ability to be distinguished in a test. Instead, say 차이를 모르겠어요 (I don't know the difference) or 구분이 안 돼요 (I can't distinguish them).
Mistake 3: Misapplying the 'Power' Aspect: Remember that 변별력 is a 'power' or 'capacity.' It describes the quality of a tool (like a test) or a person's faculty (like vision). You don't "do" 변별력; you have it or a system exhibits it.

❌ "그는 인종 변별력이 심해요." (He has severe racial discriminatory power.)
✅ "그는 인종 차별이 심해요." (He has severe racial discrimination.)

Another mistake is using 변별력 when you actually mean 경쟁력 (competitiveness). While they are related in business, 변별력 focuses on the uniqueness that allows for distinction, while 경쟁력 is the general strength to win. A product might have 변별력 (it looks different) but no 경쟁력 (it's too expensive or poor quality).

Lastly, learners often forget the 'Lyeok' (力) at the end. Without it, 변별 (Byeon-byeol) just means the act of distinguishing. Adding the 'Lyeok' transforms it into the abstract concept of the ability to do so. In academic writing, always ensure you are using the full term 변별력 when discussing the validity of an assessment or the differentiation of a dataset.

To truly master 변별력, you must know how it compares to its close relatives in the Korean language. Each of these words deals with "difference" or "separation," but they are used in distinct contexts. Choosing the right one will make your Korean sound much more natural and precise.

식별력 (Sik-byeol-lyeok) - Identification Power: This is very similar but focuses on identification. 변별력 is about telling two things apart; 식별력 is about recognizing what something is. For example, 'night vision' gives you the 식별력 to see an object in the dark.
구분 (Gubun) - Division/Classification: This is the most common word for "distinction." It is used for physical separation or logical categorization. You use 구분 when you sort laundry or divide people into groups. It lacks the "power/capacity" nuance of 변별력.
차별성 (Chabyeol-seong) - Distinctiveness/Differentiation: This is often used in business to mean "what makes us different." While 변별력 is the ability to see the difference, 차별성 is the quality of being different. A product has 차별성, and a consumer needs 변별력 to notice it.

Word	Primary Use	Example Context
변별력	Ability to rank/sort	Tests, Vision, Senses
식별력	Ability to identify	Sensors, Recognition
차별성	Unique quality	Marketing, Branding
구분력	General distinction	Logic, Categorization

When you are in an academic setting, 변별력 is almost always the correct choice for discussing the efficacy of a test. If you are in a lab, you might use 해상도 (resolution) or 정밀도 (precision) alongside 변별력. In daily life, if you find yourself using 변별력, make sure you are emphasizing the difficulty or skill involved in making the distinction. If it's easy to tell the difference, you don't need 변별력; you just need eyes!

In summary, choose 변별력 when the focus is on the standard or capacity of a system to separate high and low, or good and bad. It is a word of high-level assessment and critical thinking. By understanding these subtle differences, you avoid the robotic feel of direct translation and begin to speak with the nuance of an educated native speaker.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The character 辨 (Byeon) originally depicted two people arguing over a piece of jade, representing the act of judging or distinguishing truth.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /bjʌn.bjʌl.ljʌk/

US /bjʌn.bjʌl.ljʌk/

Stress is generally even across syllables in Korean, but a slight emphasis may be placed on 'Byeon' and 'Lyeok'.

Rhymes With

실천력 (Sil-cheon-lyeok) 추진력 (Chu-jin-lyeok) 기억력 (Gi-eok-lyeok) 상상력 (Sang-sang-lyeok) 독해력 (Dok-hae-lyeok) 집중력 (Jip-jung-lyeok) 설득력 (Seol-deuk-lyeok) 판단력 (Pan-dan-lyeok)

Common Errors

Pronouncing it as 'byeon-byeol-yeok' (forgetting the 'L' sound in 'lyeok').
Slurring the 'n' and 'b' together too quickly.
Confusing the 'yeok' sound with 'yuk'.
Misplacing the liquidization (it should be byeol-lyeok, not byeon-byeol-ryeok).
Over-emphasizing the 'Byeol' syllable.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 4/5

Common in newspapers and academic texts, but rarely in simple fiction.

Writing 4/5

Requires understanding of Sino-Korean particles and formal verb pairings.

Speaking 3/5

Used frequently in debates or professional discussions, but sounds too stiff for casual chat.

Listening 4/5

Fast-paced news reports often use this word in clusters with other high-level terms.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

구분 (Distinction) 차이 (Difference) 능력 (Ability) 시험 (Exam) 중요하다 (Important)

Learn Next

타당도 (Validity) 신뢰도 (Reliability) 객관성 (Objectivity) 난이도 (Difficulty level) 표준편차 (Standard deviation)

Advanced

변별 타당도 (Discriminant validity) 문항 반응 이론 (Item Response Theory) 계층화 (Stratification) 상관관계 (Correlation)

Grammar to Know

Noun + 을/를 확보하다 (To secure [Noun])

정부는 시험의 변별력을 확보하기 위해 대책을 마련했다.

Noun + 에 따른 (According to [Noun])

난이도에 따른 변별력 차이가 크다.

Noun + 이/가 관건이다 (The key is [Noun])

이번 입시에서는 수학의 변별력이 관건이다.

Noun + 을/를 갖추다 (To be equipped with [Noun])

이 제품은 경쟁사 대비 확실한 변별력을 갖추고 있다.

Noun + 위주의 (Focused on [Noun])

변별력 위주의 출제 방식은 학생들에게 부담을 준다.

Examples by Level

이 시험은 변별력이 없어요.

This test has no power to distinguish.

Noun + 이/가 + 없다 (to not have)

변별력은 아주 중요해요.

Discriminatory power is very important.

Topic marker '은/는' used for emphasis

쉬운 문제는 변별력이 낮아요.

Easy questions have low discriminatory power.

Adjective '낮다' (to be low) describing the noun

아이들은 색깔 변별력이 부족해요.

Children lack the ability to distinguish colors.

Noun + 부족하다 (to be lacking)

변별력이 무엇입니까?

What is discriminatory power?

Formal question ending '-입니까?'

선생님이 변별력을 생각해요.

The teacher thinks about discriminatory power.

Object marker '를' used with the verb '생각하다'

이 문제는 변별력이 높아요.

This question has high discriminatory power.

Adjective '높다' (to be high)

변별력을 높여야 합니다.

We must increase the discriminatory power.

Verb '높이다' (to raise) + '-야 합니다' (must)

수학 시험의 변별력이 너무 컸어요.

The discriminatory power of the math exam was too great.

Past tense '컸어요' (was big/great)

변별력을 위해 어려운 문제를 냈어요.

They gave difficult questions for the sake of discriminatory power.

'-을/를 위해' (for the sake of)

이 제품은 디자인에 변별력이 있어요.

This product has a distinction in its design.

Location marker '에' used for the field of distinction

변별력이 없는 시험은 의미가 없어요.

A test without discriminatory power is meaningless.

Adjective form '없는' modifying '시험'

시력 변별력을 측정하는 검사입니다.

It is a test that measures the ability to distinguish vision.

Noun + 측정하다 (to measure)

자신만의 변별력을 키우는 것이 중요해요.

It is important to develop your own unique distinction.

'-는 것' (the act of) + '중요하다'

이번 시험은 변별력 조절에 실패했어요.

This exam failed in adjusting the discriminatory power.

Noun + 조절 (adjustment) + 실패 (failure)

변별력이 떨어지면 우수한 학생을 찾기 힘들어요.

If discriminatory power drops, it's hard to find excellent students.

'-면' (if) + '힘들다' (to be hard)

공정한 평가를 위해서는 시험의 변별력이 필수적입니다.

For a fair evaluation, the discriminatory power of the test is essential.

'-을/를 위해' (for) + '필수적' (essential)

그 회사의 신제품은 기능 면에서 확실한 변별력을 갖췄다.

The company's new product has a clear distinction in terms of functionality.

Verb '갖추다' (to equip/possess) in past tense

변별력을 높이기 위해 문항의 난이도를 조정했습니다.

To increase discriminatory power, we adjusted the difficulty of the questions.

'-기 위해' (in order to) + '조정하다' (to adjust)

전문가들은 이번 수능의 변별력이 충분하다고 평가했다.

Experts evaluated that the discriminatory power of this CSAT is sufficient.

Indirect speech '-고 평가했다'

단순한 암기 위주의 시험은 변별력을 잃기 쉽습니다.

Exams focused on simple memorization are easy to lose discriminatory power.

'-기 쉽다' (to be easy to [verb])

그 배우는 목소리만으로도 충분한 변별력을 가지고 있다.

That actor has enough distinction with just their voice.

'-만으로도' (with just...)

변별력이 부족한 탓에 만점자가 속출했습니다.

Due to the lack of discriminatory power, perfect scorers appeared one after another.

'-은/는 탓에' (due to a negative reason)

소비자들은 브랜드 간의 변별력을 느끼지 못하고 있다.

Consumers are not feeling the distinction between brands.

'-지 못하고 있다' (cannot [verb] currently)

킬러 문항은 최상위권 수험생들의 변별력을 확보하기 위한 수단이다.

Killer questions are a means to secure discriminatory power for top-tier examinees.

'-기 위한' (for the purpose of) + Noun

인공지능의 변별력은 학습 데이터의 질에 의해 결정됩니다.

The discriminatory power of AI is determined by the quality of the training data.

'-에 의해' (by means of) + '결정되다' (to be determined)

시장의 포화 상태에서 상품의 변별력을 유지하는 것은 어렵다.

It is difficult to maintain a product's distinction in a saturated market.

'-는 것은 어렵다' (doing [verb] is difficult)

이 검사 도구는 환자의 인지 변별력을 정밀하게 측정한다.

This testing tool precisely measures the patient's cognitive discriminatory power.

Adverb '정밀하게' (precisely)

변별력이 지나치게 높으면 학생들에게 과도한 스트레스를 준다.

If the discriminatory power is excessively high, it gives excessive stress to students.

Adverb '지나치게' (excessively)

면접관은 지원자의 답변에서 변별력을 찾으려 애썼다.

The interviewer struggled to find a distinction in the applicant's answer.

'-으려 애쓰다' (to struggle/try hard to)

표준 점수는 시험의 난이도와 변별력을 반영하는 지표이다.

The standard score is an indicator that reflects the difficulty and discriminatory power of the test.

'-는 지표이다' (is an indicator that...)

색채 변별력이 뛰어난 사람은 미세한 톤의 차이를 구분한다.

A person with excellent color discriminatory power distinguishes subtle differences in tone.

Adjective '뛰어난' (excellent/outstanding)

변별력의 상실은 곧 평가 시스템의 공정성 논란으로 이어진다.

The loss of discriminatory power leads directly to controversy over the fairness of the evaluation system.

'-으로 이어진다' (leads to/results in)

알고리즘의 변별력을 높이기 위해 가중치 매개변수를 조정했다.

To increase the algorithm's discriminatory power, the weight parameters were adjusted.

Technical terminology usage (가중치, 매개변수)

법의학적 증거는 범죄 현장에서 높은 변별력을 지녀야 한다.

Forensic evidence must possess high discriminatory power at the crime scene.

'-어야 한다' (must/should)

현대 사회에서 개인의 변별력은 창의적 사고에서 비롯된다.

In modern society, an individual's distinction stems from creative thinking.

'-에서 비롯되다' (to originate from)

지나친 변별력 강조는 사교육 시장의 팽창을 야기하는 부작용이 있다.

Excessive emphasis on discriminatory power has the side effect of causing the expansion of the private education market.

'-를 야기하는' (causing) + Noun

데이터의 노이즈를 제거하면 분석의 변별력이 비약적으로 상승한다.

Removing noise from data dramatically increases the discriminatory power of the analysis.

Adverb '비약적으로' (leaping/dramatically)

이 논문은 해당 이론의 변별력을 검증하는 데 초점을 맞추고 있다.

This paper focuses on verifying the discriminatory power of the theory in question.

'-는 데 초점을 맞추다' (focus on doing [verb])

감각의 변별력은 나이가 들수록 점차 둔화되는 경향이 있다.

The discriminatory power of the senses tends to gradually dull as one ages.

'-는 경향이 있다' (to have a tendency to)

변별력의 확보와 교육의 보편성 사이에서 균형을 잡는 것은 난제이다.

Balancing the securing of discriminatory power and the universality of education is a difficult problem.

'- 사이에서 균형을 잡다' (to balance between)

인식론적 관점에서 변별력은 객관적 진리를 파악하는 핵심 기제이다.

From an epistemological perspective, discriminatory power is a core mechanism for grasping objective truth.

Advanced academic vocabulary (인식론적, 기제)

정치적 수사학은 대중의 변별력을 흐리게 하여 이데올로기를 주입한다.

Political rhetoric injects ideology by blurring the public's discriminatory power.

'-게 하여' (by making/letting [verb])

자본의 논리는 상품의 실질적 가치보다 기호적 변별력에 집중한다.

The logic of capital focuses on symbolic distinction rather than the practical value of products.

Social theory terminology (자본의 논리, 기호적)

고도의 변별력을 요하는 작업은 인간의 직관과 기계의 정밀함이 결합되어야 한다.

Tasks requiring high discriminatory power must combine human intuition and machine precision.

'-를 요하는' (requiring) + Noun

역사적 사료의 변별력을 가리는 일은 사학자의 가장 기본적인 책무이다.

Discerning the discriminatory power of historical records is the most fundamental duty of a historian.

Noun '책무' (duty/responsibility)

언어의 미묘한 변별력은 번역 과정에서 종종 소실되곤 한다.

The subtle discriminatory power of language is often lost in the translation process.

'-곤 한다' (to tend to do/do frequently)

사회적 계층 구조는 문화적 취향의 변별력을 통해 공고해진다.

Social hierarchical structures are solidified through the discriminatory power of cultural tastes.

'-를 통해 공고해지다' (to become solidified through)

Synonyms

차별성 구분력 식별력 독창성 특이성

Antonyms

유사성 동질성 획일성

Common Collocations

변별력을 갖추다

변별력을 확보하다

변별력이 떨어지다

변별력을 높이다

변별력이 없다

시각 변별력

상위권 변별력

확실한 변별력

변별력 논란

변별력을 상실하다

Common Phrases

변별력 있는 문제

— A question that effectively separates high and low achievers.

변별력 있는 문제 한두 개가 당락을 결정한다.

변별력 조절

— Adjusting the difficulty to achieve a specific distribution of scores.

출제 위원들은 변별력 조절에 심혈을 기울였다.

변별력이 크다

— The ability to distinguish is very strong/significant.

두 후보 사이의 변별력이 커서 선택하기 쉬웠다.

변별력이 낮다

— The ability to distinguish is weak.

이 실험은 변별력이 낮아 결과를 신뢰하기 어렵다.

변별력을 잃다

— To lose the capacity to distinguish.

오래된 센서는 변별력을 잃기 쉽다.

변별력을 강화하다

— To strengthen the power of distinction.

보안 시스템의 변별력을 강화해야 합니다.

변별력을 증명하다

— To prove one's uniqueness or ability to distinguish.

그는 이번 프로젝트에서 자신의 변별력을 증명했다.

변별력을 평가하다

— To evaluate the capacity for distinction.

이 도구는 학생들의 독해 변별력을 평가합니다.

변별력을 부여하다

— To give something a distinguishing characteristic.

브랜드에 변별력을 부여하기 위해 로고를 바꿨다.

변별력 부족

— A lack of discriminatory power.

변별력 부족으로 인해 합격자가 너무 많아졌다.

Often Confused With

변별력 vs 차별 (Chabyeol)

Chabyeol is negative social discrimination. Byeon-byeol-lyeok is neutral technical distinction.

변별력 vs 식별 (Sik-byeol)

Sik-byeol is identifying *what* something is. Byeon-byeol-lyeok is telling the *difference* between two similar things.

변별력 vs 분별 (Bun-byeol)

Bun-byeol is often used for moral judgment (right vs wrong). Byeon-byeol-lyeok is for quality or level distinction.

Idioms & Expressions

"변별력의 잣대"

— The standard or yardstick used to distinguish quality or rank.

이 시험은 인재를 뽑는 변별력의 잣대가 된다.

Formal

"물수능 (Mul-suneung)"

— A 'Water CSAT'; an exam so easy it lacks 변별력.

올해 수능은 물수능이라 변별력이 전혀 없다.

Slang/Common

"불수능 (Bul-suneung)"

— A 'Fire CSAT'; an exam so hard it has extreme 변별력.

불수능 덕분에 상위권 변별력은 확실해졌다.

Slang/Common

"킬러 문항 (Killer Munhang)"

— Super difficult questions designed solely for 변별력.

킬러 문항이 없으면 변별력을 어떻게 확보하나요?

Educational

"도토리 키 재기"

— Measuring the heights of acorns; comparing things with no 변별력.

이 후보들의 실력은 도토리 키 재기라 변별력이 없다.

Idiomatic

"옥석을 가리다"

— To distinguish jade from stone; to find true quality using 변별력.

이 면접은 진짜 인재라는 옥석을 가리는 변별력이 있다.

Literary

"날카로운 눈"

— A sharp eye; high visual or mental 변별력.

그는 가짜를 찾아내는 날카로운 변별력을 가졌다.

Metaphorical

"백지장 한 장 차이"

— A difference of a single sheet of paper; requiring high 변별력 to see.

두 제품은 백지장 한 장 차이라 변별력이 거의 없다.

Common

"그놈이 그놈이다"

— That guy is just like that guy; everything is the same (no 변별력).

요즘 스마트폰은 다 비슷해서 그놈이 그놈이라 변별력이 없다.

Informal

"천편일률"

— A thousand pieces with one rhythm; lack of 변별력 due to sameness.

천편일률적인 디자인은 시장에서 변별력을 갖기 힘들다.

Sino-Korean Idiom

Easily Confused

변별력 vs 차별성 (Chabyeol-seong)

Both deal with 'difference.'

Chabyeol-seong is the *quality* of being different. Byeon-byeol-lyeok is the *ability* to see or create that difference.

제품의 차별성이 있어야 소비자의 변별력이 작동한다.

변별력 vs 경쟁력 (Gyeong-jaeng-lyeok)

Both are used in business.

Gyeong-jaeng-lyeok is the overall power to win. Byeon-byeol-lyeok is the specific uniqueness that makes you stand out.

변별력 있는 디자인이 곧 제품의 경쟁력이다.

변별력 vs 판단력 (Pan-dan-lyeok)

Both involve mental processes.

Pan-dan-lyeok is the power to make a decision. Byeon-byeol-lyeok is the power to see the data points that lead to that decision.

정확한 변별력이 있어야 올바른 판단력이 생긴다.

변별력 vs 인지력 (In-ji-lyeok)

Both are cognitive terms.

In-ji-lyeok is the general ability to perceive. Byeon-byeol-lyeok is the specific ability to tell A from B.

인지력이 좋아도 변별력이 낮으면 비슷한 색을 구분 못 한다.

변별력 vs 정확도 (Jeong-hwak-do)

Used in testing and AI.

Jeong-hwak-do is how many you got right. Byeon-byeol-lyeok is how well the questions sorted the smart from the lucky.

정확도는 높지만 변별력이 없는 시험은 나쁜 시험이다.

Sentence Patterns

N + 의 변별력이 낮다/높다

이 시험의 변별력이 높아요.

N + 을/를 확보하기 위해 변별력을 높이다

상위권 학생들을 위해 변별력을 높였습니다.

N + 은/는 변별력을 갖추고 있다

우리 회사는 기술적 변별력을 갖추고 있습니다.

변별력 상실에 따른 N

변별력 상실에 따른 혼란이 가중되고 있다.

N + 에 대한 변별력을 가지다

그는 가짜 뉴스에 대한 변별력을 가지고 있다.

변별력의 잣대를 들이대다

모든 예술에 변별력의 잣대를 들이댈 수는 없다.

변별력과 N 사이의 상관관계

변별력과 공정성 사이의 상관관계를 분석했다.

N + (으)로 변별력을 꾀하다

독특한 마케팅으로 변별력을 꾀하고 있다.

Word Family

Nouns

변별 (Distinction/Discrimination)

변별도 (Degree of discrimination)

변별기 (Discriminator - device)

변별성 (Distinctiveness)

Verbs

변별하다 (To distinguish/discriminate)

변별되다 (To be distinguished)

Adjectives

변별적 (Discriminative)

변별력 있는 (Distinguishing/Effective)

구분 (Division)

차별 (Discrimination - social)

식별 (Identification)

선별 (Selection)

판별 (Judgment)

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely high in educational and business news; low in daily casual conversation.

Common Mistakes

인종 변별력 (Injong Byeon-byeol-lyeok) → 인종 차별 (Injong Chabyeol)
You used the technical word for 'distinction' to mean 'racial discrimination.' This is a huge mistake. '차별' is for social prejudice.
변별력을 해요 (Byeon-byeol-lyeok-eul haeyo) → 변별력이 있어요 (Byeon-byeol-lyeok-i isseoyo)
'변별력' is a quality or power you *have* or *possess*, not an action you *do*.
이 사과는 변별력이 있어요 (This apple has distinction) → 이 사과는 다른 것과 달라요 (This apple is different)
Using '변별력' for simple physical differences in daily life sounds very weird and robotic.
변별력을 높아요 (Byeon-byeol-lyeok-eul nopayo) → 변별력이 높아요 / 변별력을 높여요
Confusing the adjective '높다' (to be high) with the causative verb '높이다' (to raise).
식별력 (Sik-byeol-lyeok) used for exam ranking → 변별력 (Byeon-byeol-lyeok)
'식별력' is about recognizing an object. '변별력' is the standard term for ranking students in an exam.

Tips

Use with '확보'

When writing about exams, always pair '변별력' with '확보하다' (to secure). It is the most natural colocation for official reports.

Suneung Context

If you hear '변별력' on the news in November, it's definitely about the difficulty of the CSAT exam.

Noun Form Dominance

Stick to the noun form. '변별력이 있다' is much more common than the verb '변별하다' in modern spoken Korean.

Avoid '차별'

Never use '변별력' when you mean 'prejudice.' '차별' is the word for social discrimination.

Competitive Edge

In business, use '변별력' to mean 'the unique factor that allows customers to distinguish our brand.'

Measurement Acuity

In science, use it to describe the sensitivity or resolution of a sensor or an experimental method.

The 'Lyeok' suffix

Remember that 'Lyeok' (力) means power. So '변별력' is the *power* of distinction.

Fairness Debate

Understand that '변별력' is often at the center of debates about whether the Korean education system is too competitive.

Headline Keyword

Look for this word in the 'Society' or 'Education' sections of Korean news portals like Naver or Daum.

Professional Tone

Using this word correctly will immediately signal that you have a high level of Korean and understand social structures.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Byeon' as 'Beyond', 'Byeol' as 'Beyond-Special', and 'Lyeok' as 'Power'. It's the 'Power to see what is Beyond Special'.

Visual Association

Imagine a sieve (a sifter) that lets small sand through but catches big gold nuggets. The sieve has high '변별력'.

Word Web

시험 (Exam) 점수 (Score) 상위권 (Top tier) 난이도 (Difficulty) 평가 (Evaluation) 차이 (Difference) 능력 (Ability) 공정성 (Fairness)

Challenge

Try to find 3 products in your room that look similar and write down one '변별력' (unique distinction) for each.

Word Origin

Derived from Sino-Korean Hanja characters. 辨 (Byeon) + 別 (Byeol) + 力 (Lyeok).

Original meaning: The power (力) to distinguish (辨) and separate (別).

Sino-Korean (Hanja)

Cultural Context

Never confuse this with '인종 차별' (racial discrimination). '변별력' is a positive/neutral ability; '차별' is a negative social action.

In English, 'discriminatory power' sounds negative or like statistics. In Korea, it's a common word for 'fairness through difficulty.'

The annual Suneung news coverage always features '변별력' as a headline. Education YouTubers like 'Mimiminu' often discuss '변별력' in their content. Economic reports use it to describe Korea's export '변별력' against China.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

School/Exam

변별력 있는 문항
변별력 조절 실패
상위권 변별력
변별력을 높이다

Business/Marketing

제품의 변별력
시장 변별력
브랜드 변별력
변별력을 갖추다

Science/AI

데이터 변별력
알고리즘의 변별력
패턴 변별력
변별력 향상

Medical/Vision

시각 변별력
색채 변별력
청각 변별력
인지 변별력

Legal/Judicial

증거의 변별력
사리 변별력
진위 변별력
판단 변별력

Conversation Starters

"이번 수능 수학 영역의 변별력에 대해 어떻게 생각하세요?"

"취업 시장에서 자신만의 변별력을 높이려면 무엇을 해야 할까요?"

"요즘 스마트폰들은 디자인 면에서 변별력이 너무 없는 것 같아요."

"인공지능이 인간의 감성까지 변별력을 가질 수 있을까요?"

"시험에서 변별력과 공정성 중 무엇이 더 중요하다고 보십니까?"

Journal Prompts

내가 다른 사람들과 구별되는 나만의 '변별력'은 무엇인지 써보세요.

한국의 교육 시스템에서 '변별력'이 왜 그렇게 강조되는지 자신의 생각을 정리해보세요.

최근에 본 시험이나 평가가 변별력이 있었다고 생각하는지, 그 이유는 무엇인지 적어보세요.

기술의 발전이 인간의 '변별력'을 대신할 수 있을지에 대해 논해보세요.

일상생활에서 우리가 무언가를 선택할 때 가장 중요하게 생각하는 '변별력'의 기준은 무엇인가요?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

In a technical sense, yes, because it means a system is working accurately. However, in social contexts (like education), 'excessive 변별력' is criticized for causing too much stress for students.

It sounds very robotic. You would only say this if you are joking about 'evaluating' candidates using a spreadsheet. Normally, use '보는 눈' (an eye for people).

Think of '식별력' as 'Can I see it?' (e.g., seeing a sniper in a forest). Think of '변별력' as 'Can I tell the difference?' (e.g., telling the difference between a real tree and a fake one).

Korea is a highly meritocratic society with limited top-tier university spots. Objective '변별력' is seen as the only way to fairly decide who gets those spots.

The verb is '변별하다.' However, people use the noun '변별력' + '있다/없다/갖추다' much more often than the verb.

Yes, it is a key term in machine learning for describing how well a model can classify different categories of data.

It means the test was too easy or poorly designed, so students of different skill levels all got similar scores.

Yes, you can say '저는 저만의 변별력을 갖추기 위해 노력했습니다' (I worked hard to develop my own unique distinction).

Yes, to describe an artist's unique style that makes their work instantly recognizable from others.

It specifically refers to the ability of a test to distinguish between the very best students (e.g., the top 1% vs the top 3%).