隔离

• Pinyin: gé lí
• Hanzi breakdown: 隔 = 阝(wall/mound radical) + 鬲 (dividing vessel — partition); 离 = complex character for separation/parting

Meaning

To isolate; to quarantine; to segregate. To physically or administratively separate something or someone from others.

Used in medical (quarantine), environmental (containment), political (segregation), and technical (insulation) contexts. Became highly prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic. Also used in computing for sandboxing, and in engineering for containment. 隔离带 refers to a buffer zone or road median.

Examples

1. 确诊患者被立即转移至专门的隔离病房，以防止病毒在院内进一步扩散。 The confirmed patient was immediately moved to a dedicated isolation ward to prevent the virus from spreading further within the hospital.
2. 工厂采用全封闭隔离技术处理有毒废料，确保周边环境与居民健康不受影响。 The factory uses fully enclosed isolation technology to treat toxic waste, ensuring the surrounding environment and residents' health are not harmed.
3. 在重大外事活动期间，安全部门对核心区域实施严格隔离管控，非授权人员一律不得入内。 During major diplomatic events, security authorities enforce strict isolation and access control in the core area; no unauthorized personnel are allowed to enter.

Usage Guide

Context: medical, public health, security, environmental

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 所有入境旅客须按规定接受集中隔离，隔离期间的费用由本人承担。(All arriving travellers must undergo centralised quarantine as required — costs during the quarantine period are borne by the individual.)
• 实验室将样本与常规工作区严格隔离，以防交叉污染，确保检测结果准确可靠。(The laboratory strictly isolates samples from the regular work area to prevent cross-contamination and ensure accurate, reliable test results.)

Don't Say

• 隔离 vs 隔绝 — 隔离 implies managed separation with possible future reintegration (quarantine/containment); 隔绝 implies total and often permanent severance

Origin & History

隔 = 阝+ 鬲 (to separate, partition); 离 = complex character meaning to part or separate

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal