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[B1](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/B1_grammar_points)

Similar to

- [Expressing "from… to…" with "cong… dao…"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22from%E2%80%A6_to%E2%80%A6%22_with_%22cong%E2%80%A6_dao%E2%80%A6%22) (A2) - [Expressing distance with "li"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_distance_with_%22li%22) (A2) - [Expressing "ever since" with "yilai"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22ever_since%22_with_%22yilai%22) (B1)

Used for

[Expressing distance](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_distance), [Expressing location](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_location), [Giving directions](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Giving_directions), [Describing places](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Describing_places)

Keywords

[从](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E4%BB%8E), [离](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E7%A6%BB)

Translations

[from](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/From)

[![Chinese-grammar-wiki-cong.jpg](Comparing%20%22li%22%20and%20%22cong%22%20-%20Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki_fichiers/300px-Chinese-grammar-wiki-cong.jpg "fig:Chinese-grammar-wiki-cong.jpg"){width="300" height="300"}](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/File:Chinese-grammar-wiki-cong.jpg)

Both [离 (lí)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E7%A6%BB) and [从 (cóng)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E4%BB%8E) 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.

Contents -------- [hide]([# "wikilink")\]

- [1 从 as "from" (Time or Event)](#.E4.BB.8E_as_.22from.22_.28Time_or_Event.29 "wikilink") - [1.1 Structure](#Structure "wikilink") - [1.2 Examples](#Examples "wikilink") - [1.3 Colloquial Sayings](#Colloquial_Sayings "wikilink") - [2 从 as "from" (Place, Somebody or Something)](#.E4.BB.8E_as_.22from.22_.28Place.2C_Somebody_or_Something.29 "wikilink") - [2.1 Structure](#Structure_2 "wikilink") - [2.2 Examples](#Examples_2 "wikilink") - [3 离 as "away from" (Distance)](#.E7.A6.BB_as_.22away_from.22_.28Distance.29 "wikilink") - [3.1 Structure](#Structure_3 "wikilink") - [3.2 Examples](#Examples_3 "wikilink") - [4 离 as "from" (Time or Event)](#.E7.A6.BB_as_.22from.22_.28Time_or_Event.29 "wikilink") - [4.1 Structure](#Structure_4 "wikilink") - [4.2 Examples](#Examples_4 "wikilink") - [5 Colloquial Saying 离⋯⋯还远呢](#Colloquial_Saying_.E7.A6.BB.E2.8B.AF.E2.8B.AF.E8.BF.98.E8.BF.9C.E5.91.A2 "wikilink") - [6 Sources and further reading](#Sources_and_further_reading "wikilink") - [6.1 Books](#Books "wikilink")

从 as "from" (Time or Event) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ### Structure

从 + Time / Event + 开始 / 起

### Examples

- *从* 下个月 **起** ，公司会越来越忙。*Cóng* xiàge yuè **qǐ**, gōngsī huì yuèláiyuè máng.Starting from next month, the company will be busier and busier. - *从* 我上小学 **开始**，就特别喜欢画画。*Cóng* wǒ shàng xiǎoxué **kāishǐ**, jiù tèbié xǐhuan huà huà.I liked drawing since I was in elementary school

### Colloquial Sayings 从那以后 means "ever since then," while 从今以后 means "from now on." A few examples:

- *从那* **以后** ，我们就没有联系了。*Cóng nà* **yǐhòu**, wǒmen jiù méiyǒu liánxì le.We stopped contacting with each other since then. - *从今* **以后** ，我不用再加班了。*Cóng jīn* **yǐhòu**, wǒ bùyòng zài jiābān le.I don't need to work late from now on.

从 as "from" (Place, Somebody or Something) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ### Structure

从 + Place + 上 / 里

### Examples

- 你是不是 *从* **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 or did you not take one hundred RMB from my purse? - 我 *从* **他身上** 学到了很多东西。Wǒ *cóng* **tā shēnshang** xuédào le hěn duō dōngxi.I learned a lot from him. - *从* **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 see your work attitude from this.

离 as "away from" (Distance) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ### Structure

Place 1 + 离 + Place 2 + 远 / 近

### Examples

- 你家 *离* 公司 **多远** ？Nǐ jiā *lí* gōngsī **duō yuǎn**?How far is your home from your company? - 我家 *离* 公司 **很远** 。Wǒ jiā *lí* gōngsī **hěn yuǎn**.My home is far from my company.

Try not to say:

- 我家 **很远** *从* 公司。Wǒ jiā **hěn yuǎn** *cóng* gōngsī.

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 *离* 今天快十年了。Shàng cì jiànmiàn *lí* jīntiān kuài shí nián le.It's been about 10 years since we met last time. - *离* 我们的婚礼 **还有** 两个星期。*Lí* wǒmen de hūnlǐ **háiyǒu** liǎng gè xīngqī.We still have two weeks until our wedding. - *离* 毕业 **还有** 几个月。*Lí* bìyè **háiyǒu** jǐ gè yuè.I am a few months away from graduation.

Colloquial Saying 离⋯⋯还远呢 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 离⋯⋯还远呢 expresses that something is very far off in terms of time.

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

Sources and further reading --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ### Books - [现代汉语虚词例释](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%99%9A%E8%AF%8D%E4%BE%8B%E9%87%8A) (pp. 335) [→buy](http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%85%AB%E7%99%BE%E8%AF%8D/dp/B004323J90/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693275&sr=8-1) - [实用对外汉语教学语法](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/gramwiki/?title=%E5%AE%9E%E7%94%A8%E5%AF%B9%E5%A4%96%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E6%95%99%E5%AD%A6%E8%AF%AD%E6%B3%95&action=edit&redlink=1) (pp. 263) \[ →buy\] \

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