When do I use 从 vs 离?

Use 从 to mark the starting point of a movement, action, or time span. Use 离 to indicate the distance separating two points in space or time.

Can 从 and 离 be used in the same sentence?

Yes, you can combine them in a sentence like 从北京到上海的距离很远 (the distance from Beijing to Shanghai is far). Here 从 marks the origin, and 到 (not 离) marks the endpoint; 离 is used separately in statements like 上海离北京很远.

Is 离 ever used as a verb?

Yes, 离 can also be a verb meaning 'to leave' (e.g., 离开 'to depart'). However, as a coverb in the sense of 'from (distance)', it functions as a preposition.

How do I express 'from X to Y' with distance?

Use 从X到Y for motion of a path, and use X离Y + distance for stating how far apart they are. For example: 从北京到上海有两千公里 (from Beijing to Shanghai it is 2,000 km) or 北京离上海有两千公里 (Beijing is 2,000 km from Shanghai).

Easily confusedHSK 2

从 vs 离 (cóng vs lí): from (starting point) vs from (distance)

The Chinese prepositions 从 (cóng) and 离 (lí) both translate to “from” in English, but they serve distinct functions. 从 marks the starting point of a movement, action, or time period, while 离 expresses the distance or separation between two points in space or time. Choosing the wrong one can change the meaning from “starting from” to “distant from”.

从 (cóng) indicates the origin or starting point of a movement, action, or time span. It always requires a destination, direction, or follow-up action. 离 (lí) indicates the spatial or temporal distance between two entities; it is often used with a measure of distance (e.g., 很远, 两公里) or with time intervals (e.g., 离…还有…). While both can be translated as “from,” 从 focuses on the source, and 离 focuses on the gap.

When to use each

从cóng

from (start)

Use 从 to mark the starting point of a physical movement, an action, or a time range. It is commonly paired with directional verbs like 来, 去, 出发, and with time expressions like 从…开始. In sentences describing a path, 从 introduces the origin before the endpoint.

从 can also be used figuratively, e.g., 从今天起 (starting from today), but it cannot be used to express distance or separation.

离lí

from (distance)

Use 离 to indicate the distance in space or time that separates two points. It is often followed by a distance phrase (e.g., 离学校很远, 离过年还有三天). 离 can also convey “away from” in the sense of proximity, but does not imply motion or origin.

When used with time, 离 typically appears in the pattern 离 + event + 还有 + time, meaning “there is still (time) until (event).” Do not use 离 to mean “starting from” in a timeline.

At a glance

	从	离
Core meaning	Marks the starting point (origin)	Marks the gap/separation (distance)
Typical structure	从 + [origin] + [direction/verb]	离 + [reference point] + [distance phrase]
Spatial use example	从北京到上海 (from Beijing to Shanghai)	北京离上海很远 (Beijing is far from Shanghai)
Temporal use example	从早上八点开始 (starting from 8 AM)	离春节还有五天 (five days until Spring Festival)
Negation	Not commonly negated; use 没(有) for past actions (e.g., 没从家出发)	Can be negated with 不 (e.g., 不远, 不近) but rare with 离; distance is usually stated positively

Examples

从
我从北京来。
Wǒ cóng běi jīng lái.
I come from Beijing.
从 marks the starting point of the movement 'come'.
离
学校离我家很近。
Xué xiào lí wǒ jiā hěn jìn.
The school is very close to my home.
离 expresses the (short) distance between school and home.
从
我们从星期一开始上课。
Wǒ men cóng xīng qī yī kāi shǐ shàng kè.
We start class from Monday.
从 marks the start of a time period.
离
离考试还有三天。
Lí kǎo shì hái yǒu sān tiān.
There are still three days until the exam.
离 indicates the time gap between now and the exam.
从
他从上海坐飞机去日本。
Tā cóng shàng hǎi zuò fēi jī qù rì běn.
He flew from Shanghai to Japan.
从 introduces the origin of the trip, used with a verb of motion.
离
这里离火车站两公里。
Zhè lǐ lí huǒ chē zhàn liǎng gōng lǐ.
It is two kilometers from here to the train station.
离 is followed directly by a distance measure.

Common mistakes

Using 离 to mean 'from' in 'I come from China': ✗我离中国来 — should be 我从中国来.
Using 从 to mean 'distance from': ✗从学校到我家很近 — should be 学校离我家很近 when stating distance.
Confusing the time expressions 'from…until' (从…到) vs 'distance until' (离…还有).
Omitting a direction or destination after 从: ✗我从上海 (incomplete) — 从 needs a verb or endpoint.
Using 离 with movement verbs like 来/去: ✗他离上海来 — should be 他从上海来.

FAQ

When do I use 从 vs 离?: Use 从 to mark the starting point of a movement, action, or time span. Use 离 to indicate the distance separating two points in space or time.
Can 从 and 离 be used in the same sentence?: Yes, you can combine them in a sentence like 从北京到上海的距离很远 (the distance from Beijing to Shanghai is far). Here 从 marks the origin, and 到 (not 离) marks the endpoint; 离 is used separately in statements like 上海离北京很远.
Is 离 ever used as a verb?: Yes, 离 can also be a verb meaning 'to leave' (e.g., 离开 'to depart'). However, as a coverb in the sense of 'from (distance)', it functions as a preposition.
How do I express 'from X to Y' with distance?: Use 从X到Y for motion of a path, and use X离Y + distance for stating how far apart they are. For example: 从北京到上海有两千公里 (from Beijing to Shanghai it is 2,000 km) or 北京离上海有两千公里 (Beijing is 2,000 km from Shanghai).