Meaning
隔离 means to separate or isolate something or someone from others, often for safety, health, or security reasons. It became especially common during public health events when people or materials need to be kept apart to prevent contamination or spread of disease.
Usage
Commonly used in medical, public health, and safety contexts. Native speakers use it to describe quarantine during epidemics, isolation of patients, or separating dangerous materials. Can be used as both a verb (to isolate) and a noun (isolation/quarantine). Often appears in compounds like 隔离区 (quarantine zone) or 隔离期 (quarantine period).
Examples
- 01确诊患者需要隔离治疗。.Confirmed patients need to be treated in isolation.
- 02从国外回来要隔离十四天。.Coming back from abroad requires a fourteen-day quarantine.
Characters
Measure words
- 次一次隔离
- 个一个隔离期
Common collocations
- 隔离病毒to isolate the virus
- 隔离观察quarantine observation
- 居家隔离home quarantine
- 隔离措施isolation measures
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters relate to separation: 隔 originally meant a barrier or partition, while 离 means departure or distance. Together they emphasize complete separation or isolation.