Comparison: Prepositions cóng 从/從 and lí 离/離

The prepositions cóng 从/從 and lí 离/離 both translate to ‘from’ in English, but they are used in different contexts. Understanding when to use each preposition is crucial for accurate communication.

For basic structure of the two prepositions check cóng 从/從 and lí 离/離.

Functions

1. Starting point vs. distance

Cóng 从/從 emphasizes the starting point of an action, while lí 离/離 emphasizes the distance or separation between two locations.

Cóng 从/從
Cóng 从/從 marks the starting point of an action or movement. The starting point can be a place, time, or source. Cóng 从/從 is often used with dào 到 to indicate movement or transition from one place or time to another.

从我家到学校要五十分钟。

從我家到學校要五十分鐘。

Cóng wǒ jiā dào xuéxiào yào wǔshí fēnzhōng.

It takes fifty minutes to get to school from my home.

Lí 离/離
Lí 离/離 is used to describe distance or separation from a point, such as a place, moment, or goal. It often highlights the spatial or temporal separation between the subject and another point.

我家离学校很远, 我得坐地铁去。

我家離學校很遠, 我得坐地鐵去。

Wǒ jiā lí xuéxiào hěn yuǎn, wǒ děi zuò dìtiě qù.

My home is far from the school, I must go by metro.

2. Dynamic vs. Static

Cóng 从/從 usually precedes a verb describing an action to indicate the starting point of an action. Lí 离/離 describes a more static relationship in terms of distance and does need to express an action. Lí 离/離 is often used with an adjective, such as jìn 近 ’near‘ or yuǎn 远/遠 ‘far‘ or the existential verb yǒu 有 followed by a distance measured in distances measured in, for example, centimeters, meters, or kilometers.

从家到学校，我走路。

從家到學校，我走路。

Cóng jiā dào xuéxiào, wǒ zǒu lù.

I walk from home to school.

我家离学校很远。

我家離學校很遠。

Wǒ jiā lí xuéxiào hěn yuǎn.

My home is far from the school.

Also check: Preposition cóng 从/從 and Preposition lí 离/離