differentiate
differentiate — 動詞
1. to notice or point out what makes two or more things unlike each other when you
區分；辨別
看出或指出兩個事物的不同
to notice or point out what makes two or more things unlike each other when you compare them side by side
Joaquín found it hard to differentiate real butter from margarine in a taste test.
Joaquín 在盲測中發現很難區分真奶油與乳瑪琳。
differentiate between X and Y
The teacher showed the class how to differentiate male frogs from females by ear size.
老師向全班示範如何根據耳朵大小區分雄蛙與雌蛙。
differentiate X from Y
Many online shoppers cannot differentiate a well-made counterfeit from an original designer bag.
許多網路購物者無法分辨做工精細的仿冒品和原版名牌包。
New bank tellers are trained to differentiate genuine banknotes from forgeries using special lamps.
新進行員接受培訓，學習使用特殊燈光來區分真鈔與偽鈔。
Kabir asked a wine seller to teach him to differentiate Bordeaux from Burgundy by smell.
Kabir 請葡萄酒商教他靠氣味分辨波爾多酒與勃艮第酒。
- distinguish
more common in everyday English; 'differentiate' implies a more careful or technical comparison
- tell apart
informal phrasal verb; used mainly with can/could (e.g. 'I cannot tell them apart')
- confuse
to mistake one thing for another
文法句型
differentiate between X and Y
differentiate X from Y
用法筆記
Often paired with 'between' (to compare two items side by side) or 'from' (to separate one from a broader category). 'Differentiate' sounds more analytical and formal than the everyday phrase 'tell apart', while 'discriminate' can carry unwanted connotations of unfair bias in social contexts.
常見錯誤
2. to be the quality or feature that makes one person or thing noticeably unlike ot
使有別；區別
成為讓某人或某物與同類不同的特質
to be the quality or feature that makes one person or thing noticeably unlike others of the same type
What differentiates this laptop from cheaper models is the quality of its cooling system.
這台筆電與便宜機種的差別，在於它的散熱系統品質更好。
what differentiates X from Y
Anya's ability to speak four languages differentiates her from other candidates during job interviews.
Anya 會說四種語言的能力，讓她在工作面試中與其他應徵者不同。
X differentiates Y from Z
The bright red feathers differentiate the male cardinal from the duller female of the species.
鮮紅色的羽毛使雄北美紅雀有別於顏色較暗淡的雌鳥。
Emre believes that a willingness to listen carefully differentiates great managers from average ones.
Emre 認為，願意仔細聆聽的態度，是優秀主管與普通主管的分水嶺。
In a crowded market, customer service differentiates successful brands from those that fail.
在競爭激烈的市場中，客服品質讓成功的品牌與失敗的品牌有所區別。
- distinguish
very similar; 'distinguish' is slightly broader and can be used both for 'telling apart' and 'setting apart'
- set apart
informal phrasal verb; often used in the same pattern ('what sets it apart')
文法句型
X differentiates Y from Z
what differentiates X is
用法筆記
Subject is usually the distinguishing feature itself (a quality, a characteristic), not a person doing the differentiating. Common in business and marketing contexts where a 'differentiator' is a feature that gives a product a competitive advantage.
常見錯誤
3. to change from a simple, unspecialised cell into a more complex cell with a spec
分化
細胞從未特化狀態轉變為具有特定功能
to change from a simple, unspecialised cell into a more complex cell with a specific job, such as a muscle cell or a nerve cell, during the growth of a living thing
During early development, stem cells differentiate into specialised cells that form the heart and brain.
在早期發育過程中，幹細胞分化成特化細胞，形成心臟和大腦。
cells differentiate into [cell type]
Mayumi studies why stem cells differentiate into skin cells rather than nerve cells.
Mayumi 研究為什麼幹細胞會分化成皮膚細胞，而不是神經細胞。
differentiate into X rather than Y
Bone marrow contains cells that differentiate into several types of blood cells.
骨髓中含有能分化成多種血球的細胞。
As a tadpole becomes a frog, its cells differentiate to form legs and lungs.
當蝌蚪變成青蛙時，牠的細胞會分化形成後腿和肺部。
Scientists guide stem cells to differentiate into tissue needed for transplants.
科學家引導幹細胞分化成移植所需的組織。
- specialise
broader term used for any process of becoming adapted to a specific function; not limited to cell biology
- dedifferentiate
highly technical; the return of a specialised cell to a simpler, unspecialised state
文法句型
cells differentiate into [cell type]
[cell] differentiates to form [structure]
用法筆記
Almost exclusively used in biology and medicine. Frequently occurs in the pattern 'cells differentiate into [specific cell type]'. The noun form 'differentiation' (細胞分化) is equally common in scientific writing. The opposite process is 'dedifferentiation', where a specialised cell returns to a simpler state.
常見錯誤
4. to use a mathematical process to find the rate at which a function is changing a
微分；求導
計算函數的導數，找出變化率
to use a mathematical process to find the rate at which a function is changing at a particular point, producing a new function called the derivative
In calculus class, Hao learned how to differentiate the function f(x) equals x squared.
在微積分課上，Hao 學會了如何對函數 f(x) = x² 求導。
differentiate [function]
To find a curve's slope at any point, you must differentiate its equation.
要找出曲線上任意點的斜率，你必須對方程式進行微分。
The physics students were asked to differentiate the velocity function to obtain the acceleration formula.
物理課要求學生對速度函數微分，以求得加速度公式。
Rachid used a computer to differentiate the complex equation instead of solving it by hand.
Rachid 使用電腦對那個複雜的方程式進行微分，而不是用手算。
If you differentiate position with respect to time, you get the object's velocity.
如果你對位置對時間微分，就會得到物體的速度。
- integrate
the inverse mathematical operation; integration finds the original function from its derivative
文法句型
differentiate [function]
differentiate [function] with respect to [variable]
用法筆記
Used in calculus and related fields such as physics and economics. The verb is typically transitive, taking a function expression as its object. The noun form 'differentiation' (微分) refers to the process itself, and 'derivative' (導數) is the result.
常見錯誤
5. to adapt the content, activities, or pace of a lesson so that students of differ
差異化
因應學生不同程度調整教學內容與方式
to adapt the content, activities, or pace of a lesson so that students of different ability levels can all learn effectively in the same classroom
Emre differentiates his maths lessons by giving fast learners harder problems and others more practice.
Emre 在數學課上進行差異化教學，給進度快的學生更難的題目，給其他學生更多練習。
differentiate [subject] by offering [options]
The school asks teachers to differentiate instruction so each child learns at their own pace.
學校要求教師進行差異化教學，讓每個孩子都能按照自己的步調學習。
differentiate instruction
Sivan differentiates her history class by providing reading materials at three different levels of difficulty.
Sivan 在歷史課上提供三種不同難度的閱讀材料，以此進行差異化教學。
Aaron differentiates the project by letting students choose a report, a model, or a video.
Aaron 在專題上進行差異化教學，讓學生選擇寫報告、做模型或錄製影片。
A well-differentiated classroom gives struggling learners more support while challenging advanced learners with deeper questions.
落實差異化教學的課堂能為學習困難的學生提供更多支援，同時以更深入的問題挑戰高成就學生。
文法句型
differentiate instruction for [students]
differentiate [subject] by [method]
用法筆記
Common in educational training and pedagogical literature. The noun phrase 'differentiated instruction' (差異化教學) is a standard term in teaching methodology. This usage is distinct from sense 1 in that the teacher is not comparing things but rather adjusting methods to meet varied needs.