Definitions
(verb)
to leave; to part from; to be away from
(preposition)
from; distance from
(preposition)
without; independent of
About
The character "离", historically represented by the traditional form "離", incorporates the component "隹" for bird, suggesting an early etymological link to concepts of separation or departure akin to birds taking flight, while its structure may have originally combined this with a phonetic element. Over time, its meaning expanded from literal acts of leaving to abstract ideas of distance and disparity, while also being employed in classical contexts such as the I Ching where it denotes the fire trigram, reflecting a shift from concrete action to symbolic representation. The simplified form "离" emerged through a process of structural reduction that maintained the character's essential components, and despite these graphical changes, the character has consistently conveyed themes of division and absence throughout its evolution in the Chinese language.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
离开家的时候要锁门。
火车站离这儿很近。
请不要远离你的父母。
他的办公室离我的很近。
我们不得不暂时分离。
离婚是一个艰难的决定。
他的观点脱离了实际情况。
两国文化之间存在很大距离。