隔てる・距てる|へだてるhedateru[3]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
隔てる隔てる（へだてる） is the most common form and the usual choice for learners; it is written with kanji and kana.
距てる距てる（へだてる） is a rarely used variant, so you will seldom encounter it; it is also written with kanji and kana.
Definitions
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto separate (by distance, time, etc.); to isolate; to partition; to divide
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto interpose; to have between
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto alienate; to estrange
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 隔てる（へだてる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 隔てます（へだてます） |
| Negative (nai) | 隔てない（へだてない） |
| polite (masen) | 隔てません（へだてません） |
| classical zu / nu | 隔てず・隔てぬ（へだてず・へだてぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 隔てた（へだてた） |
| polite (mashita) | 隔てました（へだてました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 隔てなかった（へだてなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 隔てませんでした（へだてませんでした） |
| Te form | 隔てて（へだてて） |
| Potential | 隔てられる（へだてられる） |
| Passive | 隔てられる（へだてられる） |
| Causative | 隔てさせる（へだてさせる） |
| Causative passive | 隔てさせられる（へだてさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 隔てれば（へだてれば） |
| tara | 隔てたら（へだてたら） |
| Volitional | 隔てよう（へだてよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 隔てましょう（へだてましょう） |
| Imperative | 隔てろ（へだてろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
距離を隔てる
隔たる describes a state of being apart, with the distance itself as the subject (距離が隔たる); 隔てる describes an action of creating or maintaining that separation, with the distance as the object (距離を隔てる).
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym分かつわかつWrittenWritten-style word for dividing or sharing, as in 「苦楽を分かつ」; 「隔てる」 stresses something standing in between.
- Synonym離すはなすNeutralPulling apart things that are touching or close, creating distance; 「隔てる」 stresses having some object or barrier in between.
- Related分離ぶんりWrittenWritten-style word for splitting something that was one whole, or coming apart on its own, as in 「政教分離」; 「隔てる」 stresses having something or a distance in between.
- Related分けるわけるNeutralThe most general word for dividing, sharing out or classifying; 「隔てる」 instead stresses a barrier or distance standing between two things.
- Related隔離かくりNeutralIsolating people or things, as in 「患者を隔離する」; common in epidemic control. 「隔てる」 focuses on something standing in between.
- Related仕切るしきるNeutralDividing up a space with partitions or curtains; also used for running or hosting an event. 「隔てる」 is broader — you can be separated by a river or by time.
- Related区切るくぎるNeutralMarking off boundaries in space, time or text, as in 「期間を区切る」; 「隔てる」 stresses having something in between rather than drawing a line.
- Related離隔りかくWrittenRare written word for being so far apart that ties grow thin; in everyday speech use 「隔てる」 or 「離す」.
- Related懸け隔てるかけへだてるWrittenRare written word for putting distance between two people and letting the relationship cool; in everyday speech just use 「隔てる」.
- Antonym近づけるちかづけるNeutralAntonym: brings things or people closer, in both physical distance and personal closeness — the opposite of what 「隔てる」 does.
- Antonym接近させるWrittenWritten-style antonym for bringing two things closer; stiffer than 「近づける」, and opposite to 「隔てる」 in terms of distance.
Use 「隔てる」 when a wall, a river, time or a rift stands in between. For simply splitting things apart, 「分ける」 and 「離す」 fit; for isolating a patient, 「隔離」; for partitioning a space, 「仕切る」. The antonym is 「近づける」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
