离

• Pinyin: lí
• Hanzi breakdown: 离 = simplified from 離; the traditional form contains 隹 (short-tailed bird), suggesting separation or departure

Meaning

Away from; to be distant from. Used to express physical or temporal distance between two points.

A key preposition for expressing distance in Chinese. The basic pattern is A 离 B + distance/description. Works for both spatial distance and time remaining before an event. One of the first prepositions Chinese learners master.

Examples

1. 我家离学校很近。 My home is very close to the school.
2. 离考试还有三天。 There are still three days until the exam.
3. 这里离火车站不远。 It's not far from here to the train station.

Usage Guide

Context: directions, distance, time

Tone: informational

Do Say

• 我家离公司很近，走路十分钟。(My home is close to the office — ten minutes on foot.)
• 离上课还有五分钟。(There are five minutes until class starts.)

Don't Say

• 我离了他很远。(Don't add 了 after 离 when expressing distance — say 我离他很远, not 我离了他很远.)

Origin & History

Simplified from 離. The traditional character depicted a bird (鸟) separating from something, conveying the idea of 'departing' or 'being apart.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal