Difference between revisions of "Comparing "li" and "cong""

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Both [[离|离 (lí)]] and [[从|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.
 
Both [[离|离 (lí)]] and [[从|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 =
+
== 从 as "from" (time) ==
== From (time) ==
 
 
=== Structure===
 
=== Structure===
  
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</div>
 
</div>
  
== From (place) ==
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== 从 as "from" (place) ==
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
  
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</div>
 
</div>
  
== From (amount) ==
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== 从 as "from" (amount) ==
 
===Examples===
 
===Examples===
  
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</div>
 
</div>
  
== From (change) ==
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== 从 as "from" (change) ==
 
===Examples===
 
===Examples===
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
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</div>
 
</div>
  
= 离 =
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== 离 as "from" (distance) ==
== From (distance) ==
 
 
=== Structure===
 
=== Structure===
 
===Examples===
 
===Examples===
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</div>
 
</div>
  
== From (time) ==
+
== 离 as "from" (time) ==
 
=== Structure===
 
=== Structure===
 
===Examples===
 
===Examples===
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</div>
 
</div>
  
= Sources and further reading =
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== Sources and further reading ==
== Books ==
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=== Books ===
  
 
现代汉语虚词俐释 (pp. 335)
 
现代汉语虚词俐释 (pp. 335)
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实用对外汉语教学语法 (pp. 263)
 
实用对外汉语教学语法 (pp. 263)
  
{{Basic Grammar|离 and 从|A2|grammar point| }}
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{{Basic Grammar|离 and 从|B1|grammar point| }}
 
{{Similar|From… to…}}
 
{{Similar|From… to…}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing distance}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing distance}}

Revision as of 01:18, 31 May 2016

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)

Structure

从 + Time + 开始/起/以来…

Examples

  • 明天 开始,我 不 抽烟 了。 Cóng míngtiān kāishǐ, wǒ bù chōuyān le. Starting tomorrow, I will not smoke.
  • 有 了 女朋友 以后,他 不 泡妞 了。 Cóng yǒu le nǚ péngyou yǐhòu, tā bù pàoniū le. After he gets a girlfriend, he won’t hit on women.

从 as "from" (place)

Structure

从 + Place + 到/向…

Examples

  • 地上 拿 起来了 一百 块。cóng dìshàng ná qǐláile yībǎi kuài. He picked up one hundred RMB from the ground.

从 as "from" (amount)

Examples

  • 学生 到 老师 都 放假 了。 Cóng xuéshēng dào lǎoshī dōu fàngjiàle. Everyone, from the students to the teachers, are on holiday.

从 as "from" (change)

Examples

  • 最 差 的 学生 变成 了 最 认真 的 学生。cóng zuì chà de xuéshēng biànchéng le zuì rènzhēn de xuéshēng. He went from being the worst student to the best student.

离 as "from" (distance)

Structure

Examples

  • 我 的 学校 你家 很远。 Wǒ de xuéxiào nǐ jiā hěn yuǎn. My school is far from your house.

离 as "from" (time)

Structure

Examples

  • 第一次 世界 大战 第二次 世界 大战 不到 50年。 Dì yī cì shìjiè dàzhàn dì èr cì shìjiè dàzhàn bù dào 50 nián. World War I and World War II are less than 50 years apart.

Sources and further reading

Books

现代汉语虚词俐释 (pp. 335)

实用对外汉语教学语法 (pp. 263)

HSK4