How to use 离
Place 1 + 离 + Place 2 + Adv. + 近 / 远
A distance statement first names one place, then uses 离 to introduce the reference place. The description of the distance comes after that second location. Adjectives such as 近 and 远 identify the relationship, often with an appropriate degree word. This ordering keeps the two locations together before evaluating their separation.
To ask how far apart the places are, put 多远 in the distance position. Avoid putting 离 before the first place just because English begins a phrase with “from.” Context can also extend the pattern beyond buildings or cities, including commands about keeping one's distance from another person. The important relationship remains the separation between the named subject and its reference point.
Examples with pinyin and English
我家离公司很近。
My house is close to my office.
美国离中国很远。
The USA is far from China.
这个酒店离火车站很近。
This hotel is very close to the train station.
那个酒吧离这儿太远了， 我不想去。
That bar is too far away from here. I don't want to go.
What to remember
- Name the subject location before 离.
- Place the reference location after 离.
- Ask distance with 多远 after both places.
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Source and editorial notes
Explanation rewritten for Laowai. Examples are adapted from the Laowai English grammar curriculum, with editorial corrections where needed. The original curriculum credits AllSet Learning’s Chinese Grammar Wiki as used with permission. Read the retained source credits.
Difficulty labels describe the level of the explanation; they are not official HSK placement. Send a correction with this page’s URL.