1To separate or divide two things by distance, time, or a physical barrier.
大きな川が町を二つに隔てている。
A large river divides the town into two parts.
十年の歳月が二人の思い出を隔ててしまった。
Ten years have separated the two of them from their shared memories.
海を隔てた国同士でも、今はすぐに連絡が取れる。
Even between countries separated by the sea, people can now easily stay in touch.
塀が隣の家との境を隔てている。
A wall marks the boundary separating the neighboring house.
2To place something in between two things, or to have something between them; often used as 〜を隔てて.
カーテン一枚を隔てて、隣の部屋の話し声が聞こえる。
With only a curtain between us, I can hear voices from the next room.
二人は机を隔てて座り、静かに話し合った。
The two sat with a desk between them and talked quietly.
道路を隔てた向かいにコンビニがある。
There's a convenience store just across the road.
3To create emotional distance between people, causing estrangement or a rift in a relationship.
ちょっとした誤解が二人の仲を隔ててしまった。
A small misunderstanding created a rift between the two of them.
長い沈黙が兄弟の心を隔てるようになった。
A long silence gradually created emotional distance between the brothers.