罅隙 (xià xì) — (literary) crack, chink, aperture; (figurative) rift, estrangement

Definition

A literary noun for narrow gaps, cracks, or figurative rifts between people. Use it in writing or elevated prose — everyday speech uses 裂缝 or 裂痕 instead.

noun
(literary) crackchinkaperture(figurative) riftestrangement

Examples

  • 罅隙。
    Qiáng bì shàng yǒu yí dào xì xiǎo de xià xì.
    There is a tiny crack in the wall.
  • 罅隙，。
    Tā men zhī jiān de xià xì yuè lái yuè shēn, zuì zhōng wú fǎ mí bǔ.
    The rift between them grew deeper and eventually became irreparable.
  • 罅隙。
    Yáng guāng tòu guò shù yè de xià xì sǎ zài dì shàng.
    Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the leaves onto the ground.

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.

罅xiàcrack
隙xìgap

罅 and 隙 both mean crack or gap, giving a chink or rift.

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
缶缶fǒupot
Sound part声符shēngfú
虖
虖hū罅xià
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The shape 罅 uses 缶 (pot) as its meaning part and 虖 for sound.

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
⻖Written in full as阜fùmound
Sound part声符shēngfú
𡭴
𡭴𡭴隙
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 隙, the left ⻖ is the mound form 阜, while 𡭴 gives the sound; the whole shows a hole or gap in a wall.

Open 隙 →

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