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离不开

離不開
líbukāi
verb HSK 4 #10,779

Meanings

  1. 1 cannot do without
  2. 2 inseparable from
  3. 3 to be dependent on

Characters

离
lí
to leave; to separate
不
bu
not; cannot
开
kāi
to open; away
Literally 'cannot separate from' — inseparable from.

Examples

我离不开你。
Wǒ líbukāi nǐ.
I can't live without you.
现代人离不开手机。
Xiàndài rén líbukāi shǒujī.
Modern people can't do without their phones.
学习离不开努力。
Xuéxí líbukāi nǔlì.
Learning cannot be separated from hard work.

Tips

grammar
This is a resultative complement: 离 + 不 + 开. The positive form 离得开 (lídekāi) is rarely used. It's almost always in the negative.
usage
Can express both emotional dependence (离不开你, can't live without you) and practical necessity (离不开手机, can't do without a phone).

Stroke Order

离 lí
不 bù
开 kāi