tell apart

idiomatic

(idiomatic) To perceive things as different, or to perceive their difference itself; to differentiate, distinguish, discriminate.

Japanese Meaning

見分ける / 区別する / 識別する / 違いを認識する

From a distance I couldn't tell apart the two birds, but up close their beaks were clearly different.

遠くからはその二羽の鳥を見分けられなかったが、近くで見るとくちばしがはっきり違っていた。

Sense（1）

(idiomatic) To perceive things as different, or to perceive their difference itself; to differentiate, distinguish, discriminate.

They are identical twins, and if they dress the same, everybody has trouble telling them apart.

tells apart

（ present singular third-person ）

telling apart

（ participle present ）

told apart

（ participle past ）

told apart

（ past ）