Comparing "li" and "cong"

Both 从 and 离 can be translated into english as „from“. But in chinese, their meanings are different. 从 refers to a „dynamic“ distance - distance which is changing. 离 on the opposite side expresses „static“ distance, which is not changing. Both can be used in defining distance or time. 从has more meanings than 离:

从

From (time) - 从….开始，从….起，从…..以来

从明天开始，我不抽烟了。

从有了女朋友以后，她不泡妞了。

From (place) － 从….到….，从…..向…..，

他从地上拿起来了一百块。

From (amount)

从学生到老师都放假了。

From (change)

他从最差的学生变成了最认真的学生。

离

From (distance)

我的学校离你家很远

From (time)

第一次世界大战离第二次世界大战不到50年。

现代汉语虚词俐释 (pp. 335)

实用对外汉语教学语法 (pp. 263)