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

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.

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.

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.