离: Expressing Distance From a Reference Point in Chinese
离……
离 sets a place, time, or event against a reference point so the sentence can state their separation. The reference follows 离, and the distance or remaining interval comes afterward. The predicate may be qualitative, such as 近 or 远, or quantitative, such as 还有三天.
Published July 23, 2026
Reviewed July 23, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
Place / Time A + 离 + Reference B + Distance predicate
Read the structure
离 sets a place, time, or event against a reference point so the sentence can state their separation. The reference follows 离, and the distance or remaining interval comes afterward. The predicate may be qualitative, such as 近 or 远, or quantitative, such as 还有三天. Keep the model Place / Time A + 离 + Reference B + Distance predicate visible while you compare each sentence.
我家离学校很近。
My home is close to the school.
Choose the right context
Describe spatial distance: 我家离学校很近。 Ask how far two places are apart: 北京离上海有多远？ Count the interval before an event: 现在离考试还有三天。
北京离上海有多远？
How far is Beijing from Shanghai?
Respect the boundary
Do not move the reference noun before 离; 离 must introduce that reference. Do not insert the distance predicate between 离 and its reference. Use 从 for an action's starting point; 离 measures separation rather than movement from a source.
我家学校离很近。
(My home school from is very near.)
Repair the pattern
The reference point is placed before 离 and the distance predicate splits the phrase: The reference point 学校 must follow 离, and the distance predicate 很近 comes only after the complete 离学校 phrase. The remaining interval is inserted before the event that 离 introduces: 离 must first take the reference event 考试; 还有三天 then states the remaining interval.
我家离学校很近。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
我家离学校很近。
My home is close to the school.
我家
Place / Time A
This part occupies the Place / Time A position in the model pattern.
离
离
This part occupies the 离 position in the model pattern.
学校
Reference B
This part occupies the Reference B position in the model pattern.
很
Distance predicate
This part occupies the Distance predicate position in the model pattern.
近
Place / Time A
This part occupies the Place / Time A position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
我家离学校很近。
My home is close to the school.
北京离上海有多远？
How far is Beijing from Shanghai?
现在离考试还有三天。
There are three days left until the exam.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Describe spatial distance: 我家离学校很近。
- Ask how far two places are apart: 北京离上海有多远？
- Count the interval before an event: 现在离考试还有三天。
Do not use it when
- Do not move the reference noun before 离; 离 must introduce that reference.
- Do not insert the distance predicate between 离 and its reference.
- Use 从 for an action's starting point; 离 measures separation rather than movement from a source.
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
我家学校离很近。
我家离学校很近。
The reference point is placed before 离 and the distance predicate splits the phrase
The reference point 学校 must follow 离, and the distance predicate 很近 comes only after the complete 离学校 phrase.
现在离还有三天考试。
现在离考试还有三天。
The remaining interval is inserted before the event that 离 introduces
离 must first take the reference event 考试; 还有三天 then states the remaining interval.
我家学校离很近。
The reference point 学校 must follow 离, and the distance predicate 很近 comes only after the complete 离学校 phrase.
现在离还有三天考试。
离 must first take the reference event 考试; 还有三天 then states the remaining interval.
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 离…….
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 离……. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
离: Expressing Distance From a Reference Point Questions
Can 离 describe both space and time?
Yes. It can measure distance between places or the interval before or after a time or event.
What normally follows the 离 phrase?
A distance predicate follows, such as 很近, 有多远, 五公里, or 还有三天.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: Appendix A, Level 2 grammar inventory, item 27 (A.2.1.7.3): preposition 离 introducing a reference point
Supports placement in HSK 2; it does not independently establish the usage explanation.
Official sourceModern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide, 3rd ed.
Ross, Ma, Chen, He and Yeh · Routledge · 2024
Locator: Chapter 47, sections 47.4-47.5, pages 326-328
Gives 离 as the required word for expressing distance and places the reference noun phrase after 离 before the qualitative or quantitative distance expression.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
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