脱离

• Pinyin: tuō lí
• Hanzi breakdown: 脱 = 月 (flesh) + 兑 (exchange), shed/escape; 离 = 禽 variant + 离, to leave

Meaning

To break away from; to separate from; to leave or escape from.

Describes separating from a group, situation, or state. Can be physical (脱离危险 escape from danger) or abstract (脱离实际 divorced from reality). Often implies a deliberate or significant separation. Used in political, social, and personal contexts.

Examples

1. 经过抢救，病人终于脱离了生命危险。 After emergency treatment, the patient finally escaped life-threatening danger.
2. 他的方案脱离实际，根本无法执行。 His plan is divorced from reality and simply cannot be executed.
3. 青少年要学会逐渐脱离对父母的依赖。 Teenagers need to learn to gradually break away from dependence on their parents.

Usage Guide

Context: medical, political, social

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 脱离危险。(Out of danger.)
• 脱离实际。(Divorced from reality.)

Don't Say

• 脱离工作 when simply leaving work for the day — use 下班; 脱离 implies permanent or significant separation

Origin & History

Compound of 脱 (shed/escape) + 离 (leave/separate), meaning to shed and separate from.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal