Express Distance – 離/离 lí

Grammar Point:
離离 lí is a Chinese preposition that can be used to indicate distance, separation, or departure. It is often translated as “away from,” “off,” or “from” in English.

Structures

 A 離/离 lí B + 近 jìn or 遠/远 yuǎn

日本Rìběn離lí韓國Hánguó非常fēicháng近jìn日本Rìběn离lí韩国Hánguó非常fēicháng近jìn
Japan is very close to Korea.

加拿大Jiānádà離lí墨西哥Mòxīgē不bú太tài遠yuǎn加拿大Jiānádà离lí墨西哥Mòxīgē不bú太tài远yuǎn
Canada is not too far from Mexico.

我wǒ公司gōngsī離lí車站chēzhàn很hěn近jìn我wǒ公司gōngsī离lí车站chēzhàn很hěn近jìn
My company is very close to the station.

為什麼wèishénme我wǒ離lí成功chénggōng那麼nàme遠yuǎn？ 为什么wèishénme我wǒ离lí成功chénggōng那么nàyāo远yuǎn？ 😭
Why am I so far from success?

雖然suīrán你nǐ就jiù站在zhànzài我wǒ眼前yǎnqián， 但是dànshì我wǒ感覺gǎnjué你nǐ離lí我wǒ好hǎo遠yuǎn虽然suīrán你nǐ就jiù站在zhànzài我wǒ眼前yǎnqián， 但是dànshì我wǒ感觉gǎnjué你nǐ离lí我wǒ好hǎo远yuǎn
Although you are standing in front of me, but I feel that you are so far away from me.

你nǐ離lí我wǒ遠yuǎn點diǎn！ 你nǐ离lí我wǒ远yuǎn点diǎn！
Stay away from me!

 A 離/离 lí B + number + MW

我家wǒjiā離lí學校xuéxiào5 公里gōnglǐ我家wǒjiā离lí学校xuéxiào5 公里gōnglǐ
My house is 5 km away from the school.

媽媽māma家jiā離lí我wǒ公司gōngsī300 公尺gōngchǐ妈妈māma家jiā离lí我wǒ公司gōngsī300 公尺gōngchǐ
Mom’s home is 300m away from my company.

現在xiànzài離lí聖誕節shèngdànjié還有háiyǒu一個月yígeyuè现在xiànzài离lí圣诞节shèngdànjié还有háiyǒu一个月yígeyuè
We are now one month away from Christmas.

你nǐ想xiǎng去qù的de咖啡店kāfēidiàn離lí這裡zhèlǐ差不多chàbùduō700 公尺gōngchǐ你nǐ想xiǎng去qù的de咖啡店kāfēidiàn离lí这儿zhèr差不多chàbùduō700 公尺gōngchǐ
The coffee shop you want to go to is almost 700 meters from here.

我wǒ離lí適婚shìhūn年齡niánlíng只zhǐ剩shèng3 天tiān！ 我wǒ离lí适婚shìhūn年龄niánlíng只zhǐ剩shèng3 天tiān！
I am only 3 days away from the appropriate age for marriage!

FYI
Taiwanese people love to say “Age is just a number” when it comes to love and relationships. But let’s face it, when it comes to marriage, age can be a pretty important number. So, what’s the average marriage age in Taiwan? According to 2024 statistics, the average marriage age for men in Taiwan is around 32.2 years old, while for women it’s around 30. This is quite high compared to other countries, right?
But what causes this phenomenon? In fact, 43% of Taiwanese do not want to get married. This is because in Taiwan, it is still common for people to live with their parents until they get married. And since housing prices are high, many young people are choosing to delay marriage until they can afford to buy a house or are simply giving up on the idea altogether.

你nǐ離lí成功chénggōng只zhǐ剩shèng一步yíbù的de距離jùlí你nǐ离lí成功chénggōng只zhǐ剩shèng一步yíbù的de距离jùlí
You are only one step away from success.

Distance words you may need

• 　Kilometers: 公里 gōnglǐ
• 　Miles: 英里 yīnglǐ
• 　Meters: 公尺 gōngchǐ
• 　Feet: 英尺 yīngchǐ
• 　Centimeters: 公分 gōngfēn

 A 離/离 lí B + method + time

我家wǒjiā離lí咖啡店kāfēidiàn走路zǒulù5 分鐘fēnzhōng我家wǒjiā离lí咖啡店kāfēidiàn走路zǒulù5 分钟fēnzhōng
My place is a 5-minute walk from the coffee shop.

這裡zhèlǐ離lí海邊hǎibiān開車kāichē1 小時xiǎoshí这里zhèlǐ离lí海边hǎibiān开车kāichē1 小时xiǎoshí
From here, it is a 1-hour drive to the beach.

公司gōngsī離lí我wǒ租zū的de房子fángzi騎qí自行車zìxíngchē20 分鐘fēnzhōng公司gōngsī离lí我wǒ租zū的de房子fángzi骑qí自行车zìxíngchē20 分钟fēnzhōng
The company is 20 minutes away from my rented house by bicycle.

學校xuéxiào離lí你家nǐjiā開車kāichē要yào多久duōjiǔ？ 学校xuéxiào离lí你家nǐjiā开车kāichē要yào多久duōjiǔ？
How long does it take to drive from your home to school?

• Vocabulary of locations