隔 (gé) · to separate; to partition

Meanings

1 to separate; to partition
2 at a distance of

Characters

隔

gé

to separate; to partition

Contains the mound / hill radical 阝, suggesting a natural barrier or wall that separates spaces.

Examples

HSK 3

我们隔了一年没见面。

Wǒmen gé le yì nián méi jiànmiàn.

We haven't seen each other for a year.

HSK 3

他家和我家只隔一条街。

Tā jiā hé wǒ jiā zhǐ gé yì tiáo jiē.

His house and mine are only separated by one street.

HSK 5

隔着玻璃看外面的风景。

Gé zhe bōli kàn wàimiàn de fēngjǐng.

Looking at the scenery outside through the glass.

Tips

usage

隔 is very versatile. 隔 + time = after a gap of time (隔了三天 after three days). 隔 + object = separated by something (隔着一堵墙 separated by a wall).

grammar

Common patterns: 隔壁 (next door), 隔天 (the next day / every other day), 隔开 (to separate apart).

Components

radical

阝 fù

mound; hill (left-form)

Left-side mound radical (side-form of 阜) - anchors 隔 in the terrain-barrier family alongside 阴 (shady side), 阳 (sunny side), 阻 (block), 障 (obstruct). A mound is a natural barrier, fitting 'separate, partition.' Distinct from right-side 阝 (city) in 都/邮.

phonetic

鬲 lì

tripod cauldron (here phonetic)

Right 鬲 supplies the sound - lì drifted to gé via Old Chinese l/k alternation. Same phonetic in 膈 (diaphragm). 鬲 itself depicts an ancient three-legged cooking cauldron; the hollow body quietly reinforces the 'partition' meaning, but the role is primarily phonetic.