verb / preposition HSK 2
Traditional 離
to leave · to be away from · to be apart from · distance from
Meaning
离 is a common verb meaning to leave or separate from something. It's also frequently used as a preposition to express distance or separation from a place, person, or time. The character shows the radical for bird (隹), suggesting the image of a bird flying away.
Usage
离 is extremely common in everyday speech, often appearing in the pattern '离...远/近' (far from/close to) to describe distance. It's also used in time expressions like '离春节还有一个月' (there's still a month until Spring Festival). The verb form typically requires an object.
Examples
- 01我家离学校很近，走路只要十分钟。, .My home is very close to school, it only takes ten minutes to walk.
- 02离春节还有两个星期。.There are still two weeks until Spring Festival.
Common collocations
- 离开to leave, to depart from
- 离...远...to be far from...
- 离...近...to be close to...
- 离不开cannot do without, inseparable from
Antonyms
Origin
The traditional form 離 contains the radical 隹 (bird), with the imagery suggesting a bird departing or flying away from something, representing the concept of leaving or separation.