隙

xì

阝 + 𡭴

Definitions

xì (noun) crack; crevice; gap

xì (noun) discord; rift

Etymology

A crack 日 dividing two things 小; 阝 provides the pronunciation

About

The character 隙 is a phono-semantic compound, with the mound radical 阝 on the left indicating its connection to geographical or structural features, and a phonetic component on the right. Its core meaning refers to a crack, crevice, or gap, originally describing a split or narrow opening in a wall, mound, or land. This concept of physical separation later extended metaphorically to abstract gaps such as intervals of time, rifts in relationships, and fleeting opportunities that arise from openings in circumstances.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

阳光从树叶的缝隙中洒下来。

Yángguāng cóng shùyè de fèngxì zhōng sǎ xiàlái.

Sunlight filtered down through the gaps in the leaves.

他们利用工作的间隙短暂休息。

Tāmen lìyòng gōngzuò de jiànxì duǎnzàn xiūxi.

They took a short break during an interval in their work.

两座房子之间有一道狭窄的缝隙。

Liǎng zuò fángzi zhī jiān yǒu yī dào xiázhǎi de fèngxì.

There is a narrow gap between the two houses.

他抓住了对手防守的间隙迅速突破。

Tā zhuāzhùle duìshǒu fángshǒu de jiànxì xùnsù tūpò.

He seized the gap in the opponent's defense and broke through quickly.

这段关系的裂痕产生了难以弥补的嫌隙。

Zhè duàn guānxì de lièhén chǎnshēngle nányǐ míbǔ de xiánxì.

The cracks in this relationship have created a rift that is hard to mend.

再严密的计划也可能存在疏漏的孔隙。

Zài yánmì de jìhuà yě kěnéng cúnzài shūlòu de kǒngxì.

Even the most meticulous plan may have loopholes.

他总在寻找可乘之隙以实现自己的目的。

Tā zǒng zài xúnzhǎo kě chéng zhī xì yǐ shíxiàn zìjǐ de mùdì.

He is always looking for an opportunity to exploit to achieve his own goals.

两国在历史认知上存在难以弥合的观念隙罅。

Liǎng guó zài lìshǐ rènzhī shàng cúnzài nányǐ míhé de guānniàn xìxià.

There exists a difficult-to-bridge gap in historical perception between the two countries.

Related Characters

Component: 阝

Component: 𡭴

隙