離 (lí) - To leave & to depart

離Tone 2

lí ｜ 18 strokes ｜ radical:

俊梁

離 · lí

To leave;

to depart;

to separate;

to be away from;

also refers to a type of legendary bird in ancient texts.

To leaveto departto separate

Usage highlights

To leaveTo divorceDistance fromTo part fromTo be separated fromTo deviate from

Synonyms

  • 别— to part, to leave
  • 分— to separate, to divide
  • 去— to go away, to leave

Antonyms

  • 合— to combine, to unite
  • 聚— to gather, to assemble
  • 归— to return, to come back

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He left his hometown (离开家乡).
  • The airport is far from the city center (离市中心很远).
  • They divorced last year (他们离婚了).
  • This is a book about separation and reunion (这是一本关于离合的书).

Collocations

  • To leave(离开)
  • To divorce(离婚)
  • Distance from(距离)
  • To part from(离别)
  • To be separated from(脱离)
  • To deviate from(偏离)

Idioms

  • If you stay long even a feast must break up(没有不散的筵席)
  • To be far apart, separated by a long distance(离离原上草)
  • To be confused and disoriented(迷离恍惚)
  • To be inseparable, closely attached(形影不离)
  • To betray one's principles and depart from the right path(离经叛道)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In ancient Chinese mythology, 离 was the name of a legendary bird, one of the 'Four Mythical Birds'.
  • The character appears in the Book of Songs describing lush vegetation, conveying a sense of abundance and vitality.
  • In the I Ching (Book of Changes), 离 represents the Fire trigram, symbolizing brightness, attachment, and clarity.

FAQ