距离

距離

jùlí

noun HSK 4 #1,881

Meanings

Both characters relate to separation — distance between things

这里距离学校很近。

Zhèlǐ jùlí xuéxiào hěn jìn.

This place is very close to the school.

两个城市之间的距离是五百公里。

Liǎng ge chéngshì zhījiān de jùlí shì wǔbǎi gōnglǐ.

The distance between the two cities is 500 kilometers.

我们之间的距离越来越远了。

Wǒmen zhījiān de jùlí yuèláiyuè yuǎn le.

The distance between us is getting farther and farther.

grammar

距离 can be a noun (distance: 距离很远) or a verb/preposition (to be apart from: 距离学校五百米). As a preposition, it works like 'from': 距离这里不远.

usage

距离 can also be used metaphorically for emotional distance: 保持距离 (keep one's distance), 拉近距离 (close the gap between people).

距 jù

离 lí