隔 (gé) - To separate & to partition

隔Tone 2

gé ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

枫惠

隔 · gé

To separate;

to partition;

to divide;

to be apart from;

to be at a distance;

to have an interval between;

a partition or barrier.

To separateto partitionto divide

Usage highlights

To separatePartition wallSoundproofHeat insulationGeneration gapAt intervals

Synonyms

  • 离— to leave; to separate; to be apart from
  • 分— to divide; to separate; to part
  • 断— to break; to cut off; to sever

Antonyms

  • 连— to connect; to join; to link
  • 接— to connect; to join; to meet
  • 通— to go through; to connect; to communicate

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • There is a wall separating the two rooms (隔着一堵墙).
  • We haven't seen each other for a long time (我们很久没见，都隔了很久了).
  • The mountains are separated by a river (山被河隔开了).
  • There is a generation gap between parents and children (父母和孩子之间有代沟，隔了一代).

Collocations

  • To separate(隔离)
  • Partition wall(隔墙)
  • Soundproof(隔音)
  • Heat insulation(隔热)
  • Generation gap(隔代)
  • At intervals(间隔)

Idioms

  • Separated by a strip of water(一水之隔)
  • As far apart as heaven and earth(天悬地隔)
  • Separated by mountains and rivers(关山阻隔)
  • Like there's a big gap between them(恍如隔世)
  • Completely out of touch(隔靴搔痒)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese architecture, '隔' was important in space division, creating privacy while maintaining connection.
  • The concept reflects Confucian emphasis on proper social boundaries and hierarchical relationships.
  • In feng shui, proper 'partitioning' (隔断) is used to direct energy flow while maintaining harmony.

FAQ