Meaning
离开 means to physically leave or depart from a place or person. It emphasizes the action of moving away or separating oneself from a location or situation. The word combines 离 (to be away from) and 开 (to open/move away), creating the sense of creating distance.
Usage
离开 is commonly used in everyday speech and writing to describe leaving a place, person, or situation. It can be followed by a location (离开北京) or used absolutely (我要离开了). It's neutral in register and works in both formal and informal contexts. Often appears with time expressions to indicate when someone left or will leave.
Examples
- 01他明天就要离开北京了。.He is leaving Beijing tomorrow.
- 02我不想离开你。.I don't want to leave you.
Characters
Common collocations
- 离开家to leave home
- 离开公司to leave the company
- 离开中国to leave China
- 永远离开to leave forever
Antonyms
Origin
The combination of 离 (separation, distance) and 开 (to move away, open up) creates a compound meaning that reinforces the concept of departure and creating space between oneself and a location.