HSK 5, v, 12 strokes, radical 阝, rank #3438, Medium
隔
gé
to partition
HSK 5, v, 12 strokes, radical 阝, rank #3438, Medium
隔
gé
to stand or lie between
HSK 5, v, 12 strokes, radical 阝, rank #3438, Medium
隔
gé
at a distance from
HSK 5, v, 12 strokes, radical 阝, rank #3438, Medium
隔
gé
after or at an interval of
HSK 5, v, 12 strokes, radical 阝, rank #3438, Medium
隔
gé
to separate, to partition, to divide
HSK 5, v, 12 strokes, radical 阝, rank #3438, Medium
gé(ge2) T2
1to separate
2to partition
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March 24, 2026
隔gé(ge2)
The character 隔 (gé) means to separate or partition something, often indicating a physical or metaphorical distance between entities. It can also imply a time interval, as in 'to do something after a certain period.' This character is commonly used in contexts like describing physical space or time gaps between events.
Strokes12Radical阝Frequency#3438DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of separation is often linked to familial and community ties, where physical distance can symbolize emotional distance. The idea of 隔 can also reflect the importance of maintaining harmony and balance in relationships.
Memory Tip
Imagine a fence (隔) that separates two fields. The fence symbolizes the act of separation, and the sound 'gé' can remind you of 'gap,' which also suggests a space in between. Picture standing between two friends, with a fence dividing you, emphasizing the distance.
Meanings of 隔
gé(ge2)
1to separate
2to partition
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 隔
隔Simplified
12Strokes
阝Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#3438Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 隔
Podcast: 隔
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AI Study Notes for 隔
Quick Contrast
隔 (gé) vs 分 (fēn) — use 隔 when emphasizing separation or distance, while 分 focuses on the act of dividing something into parts.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a fence (隔) that separates two fields. The fence symbolizes the act of separation, and the sound 'gé' can remind you of 'gap,' which also suggests a space in between. Picture standing between two friends, with a fence dividing you, emphasizing the distance.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 隔 with similar characters such as 分 (fēn, to divide) or 隔壁 (gébì, next door). The tone is crucial; ensure you pronounce it as 'gé' (second tone) rather than 'gè' (fourth tone), which means 'to give' in a different context. Common collocations include 隔离 (gélí, to isolate) and 隔断 (gēduàn, to cut off).
HSK Study Tips
While 隔 is not directly included in the HSK levels, it shares roots with other words about separation and division, such as 分开 (fēnkāi). Focus on its usage in phrases related to distance and intervals, as it can enhance your understanding of spatial and temporal concepts.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of separation is often linked to familial and community ties, where physical distance can symbolize emotional distance. The idea of 隔 can also reflect the importance of maintaining harmony and balance in relationships.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 隔 with 过 (guò), which means 'to pass' or 'to cross.' For example, saying '我隔过这个街' (Wǒ gé guò zhège jiē) is incorrect; the right phrase should be '我经过这个街' (Wǒ jīngguò zhège jiē).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 隔
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Grammar Patterns of 隔
隔 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
This jury is expected to be sequestered for at least two months.
6
你们的冷热水管包好隔热层了吗？
nǐ mén de lěng rè shuǐ guǎn bāo hǎo gé rè céng le ma？
Are your hot and cold water pipes well insulated?
7
画廊中各幅画的间隔安排得很好.
huà láng zhōng gè fú huà de jiān gé ān pái dé hěn hǎo.
The pictures in the gallery were well spaced out.
8
我到隔壁房间里把你的包拿来好 吗 ?
wǒ dào gé bì fáng jiān lǐ bǎ nǐ de bāo ná lái hǎo?
Shall I fetch your bag from the next room?
9
她同隔壁房间的一位女孩子成了好朋友.
tā tóng gé bì fáng jiān de yī wèi nǚ hái zǐ chéng le hǎo péng yǒu.
She's chummed up with the girl in the next room.
10
邻居们认为隔壁的那户人家已经搬走了。
lín jū mén rèn wéi gé bì de nà hù rén jiā yǐ jīng bān zǒu le。
The neighbors thought the family next door had moved.
Cultural Notes for 隔
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of separation is often linked to familial and community ties, where physical distance can symbolize emotional distance. The idea of 隔 can also reflect the importance of maintaining harmony and balance in relationships.
Word Family of 隔
Words Containing This Character20
隔géto separate
隔壁gébìnext door
隔离gélíto separate隔離
间隔jiàngégap間隔
相隔separated by (distance or time etc)
时隔shígéseparated in time (usu. followed by a quantity of time)時隔
隔夜overnight
隔音soundproofing
隔阂géhémisunderstanding隔閡
分隔to divide
隔绝disconnected隔絕
隔间booth隔間
与世隔绝to be cut off from the rest of the world (idiom)與世隔絕
隔热to insulate thermally隔熱
阻隔to separate
隔膜diaphragm (anatomy)
隔断partition隔斷
隔开gékāito separate隔開
隔日the next day
隔天the next day
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 隔 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 隔
隔 (gé) emphasizes separation or distance, while 分 (fēn) focuses on dividing or distributing something. For instance, 隔 can refer to physical barriers, whereas 分 is used when talking about portions or shares. Understanding the context can help you choose the right word.
Yes, 隔 (gé) appears in idiomatic expressions like '隔岸观火' (gé àn guān huǒ), which means to watch a fire from across the river, implying a detached observation of a situation. Such phrases enrich your understanding of how the character is used in various contexts.
隔 (gé) means to separate or partition something. It can describe physical separation, such as a wall between two rooms, or metaphorical separation, like emotional distance. It can also imply a distance in time or space, indicating intervals between events.
隔 (gé) can be used in sentences to describe separation or distance. For example, you might say '这两栋楼隔得很远' (zhè liǎng dòng lóu gé de hěn yuǎn), meaning 'These two buildings are far apart.' It's often used to express intervals, such as '隔一天' (gé yī tiān), meaning 'every other day.'
You can use 隔 to indicate distance, such as in '我们隔得很远' (Wǒmen gé dé hěn yuǎn), meaning 'We are very far apart.'
No, 隔 can also refer to time intervals, such as '隔天' (gé tiān), which means 'the next day.'
Yes, similar words include 分开 (fēnkāi) for 'to separate' and 隔离 (gélí) for 'to isolate.'
