Comparing "li" and "cong"

Both 离 (lí) and 从 (cóng) can be translated into English as "from." In Chinese, however, their meanings are different. 从 is used in cases where the subject's position relative to a fixed location changes. 离 expresses a "static" distance, or a distance that is unchanging. Both can be used in defining distance or time, however 从 has more meanings than 离.

从 as "from" (Time or Event)

Structure

从 + Time / Event + 开始 / 起

Examples

• 从 下 个 月 起 ，公司 会 越来越 忙 。Cóng xiàge yuè qǐ, gōngsī huì yuèláiyuè máng.Starting from next month, the company will be busier and busier.
• 从 我 上 小学 开始，就 特别 喜欢 画画 。Cóng wǒ shàng xiǎoxué kāishǐ, jiù tèbié xǐhuan huà huà.I liked drawing since I was in elementary school

Colloquial Sayings

从那以后 means "ever since then," while 从今以后 means "from now on."

A few examples:

• 从 那 以后 ，我们 就 没有 联系 了 。Cóng nà yǐhòu, wǒmen jiù méiyǒu liánxì le.We stopped contacting with each other since then.
• 从 今 以后 ，我 不用 再 加班 了 。Cóng jīn yǐhòu, wǒ bùyòng zài jiābān le.I don't need to work late from now on.

从 as "from" (Place, Somebody or Something)

Structure

从 + Place + 上 / 里

Examples

• 你 是 不 是 从 我 包 里 拿 了 一百块钱 ？Nǐ shì bù shì cóng wǒ bāo lǐ ná le yī bǎi kuài qián?Did you or did you not take one hundred RMB from my purse?
• 我 从 他 身上 学到 了 很多 东西 。Wǒ cóng tā shēnshang xuédào le hěn duō dōngxi.I learned a lot from him.
• 从 这 件 事 可以 看出 你 的 工作 态度 。Cóng zhè jiàn shì kěyǐ kànchū nǐ de gōngzuò tàidu.We can see your work attitude from this.

离 as "away from" (Distance)

Structure

Place 1 + 离 + Place 2 + 远 / 近

Examples

• 你 家 离 公司 多 远 ？Nǐ jiā lí gōngsī duō yuǎn?How far is your home from your company?
• 我 家 离 公司 很远 。Wǒ jiā lí gōngsī hěn yuǎn.My home is far from my company.

Try not to say:

• 我 家 很远 从 公司 。Wǒ jiā hěn yuǎn cóng gōngsī.

离 as "from" (Time or Event)

Structure

Past Event 1 + 离 + Time + Duration

以现在为时间的起点，try this pattern:

离 + Future Event + 还有 + Duration

Examples

• 上次 见面 离 今天 快 十 年 了 。Shàng cì jiànmiàn lí jīntiān kuài shí nián le.It's been about 10 years since we met last time.
• 离 我们 的 婚礼 还有 两个 星期 。Lí wǒmen de hūnlǐ háiyǒu liǎng gè xīngqī.We still have two weeks until our wedding.
• 离 毕业 还有 几 个 月 。Lí bìyè háiyǒu jǐ gè yuè.I am a few months away from graduation.

Colloquial Saying 离⋯⋯还远呢

离⋯⋯还远呢 expresses that something is very far off in terms of time.

• 我们 刚刚 开始 谈恋爱 ，离 结婚 还远 呢 。Wǒmen gānggāng kāishǐ tánliànài, lí jiéhūn háiyuǎn ne.We've just started our relationship. It's too soon to talk about marriage.

Sources and further reading

Books

• 现代汉语虚词例释 (pp. 335) 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 →buy
• 实用对外汉语教学语法 (pp. 263) [ →buy]

HSK4