离不开

離不開

líbukāi

verb HSK 4 #10,779

Meanings

Literally 'cannot separate from' - inseparable from.

HSK 1

我离不开你。

Wǒ líbukāi nǐ.

I can't live without you.

HSK 2

学习离不开努力。

Xuéxí líbukāi nǔlì.

Learning cannot be separated from hard work.

HSK 3

现代人离不开手机。

Xiàndàirén líbukāi shǒujī.

Modern people can't do without their phones.

grammar

This is a resultative complement: 离 + 不 + 开. The positive form 离得开 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).

离 lí

不 bù

开 kāi