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March 24, 2026
公里gōnglǐ(gong1li3)
公里 (gōnglǐ) refers to a unit of measurement for distance, equivalent to one thousand meters. It is commonly used in both everyday conversation and official contexts when discussing travel distances or geographical measurements.
Frequency#3790DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In China, distance is frequently expressed in kilometers in both urban and rural settings, reflecting the metric system's adoption. Road signs typically indicate distances in kilometers, making it essential for navigation.
Memory Tip
Think of the character 公 (gōng) as representing 'public' or 'shared', like public transportation that often measures distance in kilometers. The second character, 里 (lǐ), looks like a person standing with arms spread wide, imagining the vast distance they are covering in kilometers.
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AI Study Notes for 公里
Memory Mnemonic
Think of the character 公 (gōng) as representing 'public' or 'shared', like public transportation that often measures distance in kilometers. The second character, 里 (lǐ), looks like a person standing with arms spread wide, imagining the vast distance they are covering in kilometers.
Usage Notes
Be mindful to use 公里 in a context that requires measuring distance. Common collocations include '行驶公里' (xíngshǐ gōnglǐ) meaning 'to drive a distance in kilometers'. Avoid confusing it with 米 (mǐ), which means meters.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 公里 connects with other measurement-related vocabulary like 米 (mǐ) and 厘米 (límǐ). Focus on using it in sentences that describe distances to reinforce its usage.
Cultural Note
In China, distance is frequently expressed in kilometers in both urban and rural settings, reflecting the metric system's adoption. Road signs typically indicate distances in kilometers, making it essential for navigation.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use the term 米 (mǐ) when they mean 公里 (gōnglǐ). For example, saying '我走了五米' (wǒ zǒule wǔ mǐ) instead of '我走了五公里' (wǒ zǒule wǔ gōnglǐ) when discussing a longer distance.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 公里
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Grammar Patterns of 公里
公里 functions as a measure word. Place it between a number/demonstrative and the noun it counts (一本书, 这个人). Different categories of nouns require different measure words. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
The deposits spread for 100 kilometers across four counties.
Cultural Notes for 公里
🏮Cultural insight
In China, distance is frequently expressed in kilometers in both urban and rural settings, reflecting the metric system's adoption. Road signs typically indicate distances in kilometers, making it essential for navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions about 公里
You can say '公里转换为英里' (gōnglǐ zhuǎnhuàn wèi yīnglǐ), meaning 'convert kilometers to miles'.
No, 公里 can be used for both long and short distances, such as the distance between two nearby cities or the length of a running track.
