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

  • 下个月 ,你 别 来 上班 了 。Cóng xià gè yuè , nǐ bié lái shàngbān le.Don't bother to come to work from next month.
  • 我 记事 ,就 特别 喜欢 画画 。Cóng wǒ jìshì , jiù tèbié xǐhuan huà huà.I like drawing since I can remember.
  • 我 妈妈 怀孕 开始 ,我 爸爸 就 不 抽烟 了 。Cóng wǒ māma huáiyùn kāishǐ, wǒ bàba jiù bù chōuyān le.My father has stopped smoking since my mother's pregnancy.

从 as "from" (place, somebody or something)

Structure

从 + Place + 上 / 里

Examples

  • 你 是不是 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 take one hundred RMB from my purse or not?
  • 他 身上 学到 了 很多 东西 。cóng tā shēnshang xuédào le hěn duō dōngxi.I learned a lot from him.
  • 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 tell your work attitude from this.

离 as "from" (distance)

Structure

Place 1 + 离 + Place 2 + 远 / 近

Examples

  • 你 家 学校 多 远Nǐ jiā xuéxiào duō yuǎn?How far is your home from your school?
  • 我 家 学校 很远Wǒ jiā xuéxiào hěn yuǎn.My home is far from my school.
  • 我 家 学校 很远Wǒ jiā cóng xuéxiào hěn yuǎn.

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 今天 快 十年 了 。Shàng cì jiànmiàn jīntiān kuài shí nián le.It's been about 10 years since we met last time.
  • 我们 的 婚礼 还有 两个 星期 。 wǒmen de hūnlǐ háiyǒu liǎng gè xīngqī.We have two weeks away from our wedding.
  • 毕业 还有 几个月 。 bìyè háiyǒu jǐge yuè.I have a few months away from graduation.

Colloquial Saying 离⋯⋯还远呢

表示时间上很遥远或者程度上和未来差距很大。

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

Sources and further reading

Books

HSK4