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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#3438DifficultyHard
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.
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.
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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2The sound half鬲 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaywall
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 隔? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 隔?
Decomposition of 隔
IDS Structure⿰阝鬲
隔Full Character
=
阝yi4
left
鬲Ge2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 隔?
How to say to separate in Chinese
“to separate” in Chinese is隔gé
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.
When to use 隔
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).
隔 or something close to it
隔 (gé) vs 分 (fēn) — use 隔 when emphasizing separation or distance, while 分 focuses on the act of dividing something into parts.
What learners get wrong
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).
Write 隔
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.
They used a screen to separate the meeting room into two parts.
15
不同文化之间的隔阂需要时间来消除。
Bùtóng wénhuà zhījiān de géhé xūyào shíjiān lái xiāochú.
The separation between different cultures needs time to be eliminated.
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.'
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