距离

距離

jùlí

noun HSK 4 #1,881

Meanings

Both characters relate to separation — distance between things

Zhèlǐ jùlí xuéxiào hěn jìn.

This place is very close to the school.

Liǎng ge chéngshì zhījiān de jùlí shì wǔbǎi gōnglǐ.

The distance between the two cities is 500 kilometers.

Wǒmen zhījiān de jùlí yuè lái yuè 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