隔断 (gé duàn) — to cut off, to separate, to obstruct (by creating a barrier)

Definition

隔断 (gé duàn) means to cut off or block off by putting something in between, often physically (a wall, road) or figuratively (a relationship). Note that 隔 means 'to separate' but as a verb on its own, while 断 alone means 'to break off'.

verb
to cut offto separateto obstruct (by creating a barrier)

Examples

  • ，隔断。
    Wǒ men zài fáng jiān lǐ jiā le yì dǔ qiáng, bǎ kōng jiān gé duàn le.
    We added a wall in the room to cut off the space.
  • 隔断。
    Zhè tiáo xīn lù gé duàn le zhěng gè dì qū.
    This new road has cut off the entire area.
  • 隔断。
    Wǒ men bù néng ràng zhè ge wù huì gé duàn yǒu yì.
    We cannot let this misunderstanding cut off friendship.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

隔géseparate
断duàncut off

隔 (separate) and 断 (cut off) combine to mean separating or cutting off.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
阝Written in full as阜fùwall
Sound part声符shēngfú
鬲
鬲gé隔gé
Same sound today

隔 puts 阝, a wall, with 鬲, which gives the sound gé, to show separating with a wall.

Open 隔 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 斷; 断 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 斷 uses 𢇍 (to cut) and 斤 (axe) together.

Open 断 →

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