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Comparing 离 ("li2") and 从 ("cong2")

从 cóng

Grammar
HSK 3

Structure

从 + Time / Event + 开始 / 起 从 + Place + 上 / 里 Place 1 + 离 + Place 2 + 远 / 近 Past Event 1 + 离 + Time + Duration 离 + Future Event + 还有 + Duration

Translations

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Definition

离表示距离或时间上的间隔，从表示起点或来源。

离 indicates distance or time interval, while 从 indicates starting point or origin.

Usage

离用于指出某地或某事发生的时间点与另一参照点之间的距离；从用于指出动作或状态的起点，可以是空间、时间或来源。

离 is used to indicate the distance from a place or time point to another reference point; 从 is used to indicate the starting point of an action or state, which can be spatial, temporal, or source.

Examples

  • 1 我家离学校很远。 (My home is far from school.)
  • 2 从北京到上海坐高铁很快。 (From Beijing to Shanghai, the high-speed train is fast.)
  • 3 离过年还有一个月。 (It's still one month until Chinese New Year.)
  • 4 我从早上一直工作到现在。 (I have been working from morning until now.)
  • 5 离这里最近的地铁站是哪里？ (Where is the nearest subway station from here?)
  • 6 他从美国回来了。 (He returned from the United States.)
  • 7 离考试还有三天。 (There are three days left until the exam.)
  • 8 从明天开始放假。 (The holiday starts from tomorrow.)

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