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March 24, 2026
离开(離開)líkāi(li2kai1)
离开 (li2 kai1) means 'to leave' or 'to depart' from a place or situation. It is commonly used in both physical contexts, such as leaving a location, and metaphorical ones, like leaving a job or relationship. The term conveys a sense of separation or moving away from something.
Frequency#202DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the act of leaving can have significant emotional weight, often tied to family or community ties. For example, leaving home for education or work is a common theme in many families, reflecting values of sacrifice and ambition.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person (离) with an umbrella (开) leaving a rainy place. The character 离 combines the radical for 'to separate' and the component for 'to open', symbolizing the act of opening the door to leave. Think of 'Li' as 'Leave' to help remember the pronunciation.
Meanings of 离开
líkāi(li2kai1)
1to depart
2to leave
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About 离开
离开Simplified
離開Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#202Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L3HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 离开
Podcast: 离开
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AI Study Notes for 离开
Quick Contrast
走 (zǒu, to go) - use 离开 when emphasizing separation from a place or situation, while 走 focuses on the act of going without the same connotation of departure.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person (离) with an umbrella (开) leaving a rainy place. The character 离 combines the radical for 'to separate' and the component for 'to open', symbolizing the act of opening the door to leave. Think of 'Li' as 'Leave' to help remember the pronunciation.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 离开 with other verbs like 去 (qù, to go) or 走 (zǒu, to walk). While 离开 emphasizes the act of leaving, 去 and 走 can imply movement towards a destination. It's informal, so in more formal contexts, one might use 离职 (lí zhí) for leaving a job.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 3 word, 离开 connects with other travel-related vocabulary like 走 (to walk) and 到 (to arrive). Focus on its usage in sentences and practice with phrases like 离开家 (to leave home) to enhance comprehension.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the act of leaving can have significant emotional weight, often tied to family or community ties. For example, leaving home for education or work is a common theme in many families, reflecting values of sacrifice and ambition.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 离开 in contexts requiring more specific verbs. For example, saying '离开学校' (leave school) is correct, but saying '离开我家' (leave my house) might be confusing without context. Instead, clarify that 离开 is best for significant departures.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 离开
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Grammar Patterns of 离开
离开 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
When you came away you made a definite effort to mix.
5
他们坚决要求你立即离开。
tā mén jiān jué yào qiú nǐ lì jí lí kāi。
The men are very insistent that you leave right away.
6
这是我的地盘。我要你离开。
zhè shì wǒ de dì pán。 。 wǒ yào nǐ lí。
This is my territory. I want you out of here.
7
“你们聊了很久了吗？”——“打你离开后一直在聊。”
“ “ nǐ mén liáo le hěn jiǔ le？”——“ ma ？”——“ dǎ nǐ lí kāi hòu yī zhí。”
"Have you been chatting for long?" — "Ever since you left."
8
最终是什么让你离开萨拉热窝前往萨格勒布的？
zuì zhōng shì shí mó ràng nǐ lí kāi sà lā rè wō qián wǎng sà gé lè bù de？
What was it ultimately that led you to leave Sarajevo for Zagreb?
9
我离开了得克萨斯州，总算摆脱了那里的一切。
wǒ lí kāi le dé kè sà sī zhōu， ， zǒng suàn bǎi tuō le nà lǐ de yī。
I left Texas and said good riddance to all that.
10
我们目睹了一家人正在收拾家当准备离开的凄惨景象。
wǒ mén mù dǔ le yī jiā rén zhèng zài shōu shí jiā dāng zhǔn bèi lí kāi de qī cǎn jǐng xiàng。
We encountered the pathetic sight of a family packing up its home.
Cultural Notes for 离开
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the act of leaving can have significant emotional weight, often tied to family or community ties. For example, leaving home for education or work is a common theme in many families, reflecting values of sacrifice and ambition.
Frequently Asked Questions about 离开
No, 离开 can also refer to leaving a job, relationship, or situation, making it versatile in usage.
Not directly; 离开 means to leave but does not imply the farewell aspect. For saying goodbye, you would use 再见 (zài jiàn).
离 (lí) means 'to leave' in a more general sense, while 离开 (li2 kai1) specifically indicates the action of departing.
