Meanings of 离
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About 离
Podcast: 离
Podcast: 离
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AI Study Notes for 离
离 (lí) vs 去 (qù) — use 离 when emphasizing separation or parting, while 去 focuses on the act of going to a destination.
Imagine a mythical beast 'leaving' a fire behind, which represents the character 离. The radical 离 can be visualized as a creature stepping away from flames, helping you remember both its form and meaning. The pronunciation 'lí' sounds like 'leave' in English, reinforcing the concept of parting.
Learners often confuse 离 with similar-sounding characters. It's important to use 离 in appropriate contexts, especially when discussing distances or farewells. Common collocations include 离开 (lí kāi, 'to leave') and 离婚 (lí hūn, 'to divorce').
As an HSK Level 2 word, 离 connects to other basic verbs expressing actions and states. Students should focus on its use in everyday conversation, particularly in phrases involving separation or distance.
In Chinese culture, the concept of 离 is significant during festivals, such as the Mid-Autumn Festival, when families may be geographically separated yet feel emotionally connected.
Learners often mistakenly write 离 as 利 (lì), which means 'benefit.' Remember that 离 relates to parting or distance, while 利 does not. Another common error is using 离 incorrectly in phrases like '离来' instead of '回来' for 'come back.'
Pronunciation of 离
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Etymology of 离
Pictograph of a legendary mountain demon with horns and a tail beween its legs, now written as 魑. The traditional character 離 (leave; depart; away from) was simplified to 离 by deleting the 隹 (bird) component.
An animal standing straight; 亠 is the head
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 离?
Decomposition of 离
Identify the Components
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Write 离
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Practice writing 离 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 离
离 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 12 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.
Complete the Sentence
这儿____车站有点儿远。
This place is a bit far from the station.
Example Sentences for 离 (14)
Cultural Notes for 离
In Chinese culture, the concept of 离 is significant during festivals, such as the Mid-Autumn Festival, when families may be geographically separated yet feel emotionally connected.
Word Family of 离
Compound Meaning
What does 璃 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 离
You can say '我离开了家' (Wǒ líkāi le jiā), meaning 'I left home.'