Meaning
疏远 describes the process of emotional or social distance growing between people who were once close. It can be used as a verb meaning to gradually distance oneself from someone, or as an adjective describing a relationship that has become cold or distant.
Usage
This word typically describes relationships between family members, friends, or colleagues that have cooled over time due to lack of communication, disagreement, or changed circumstances. It carries a somewhat formal tone and is commonly used in written Chinese and serious conversations about relationships. The verb form often appears with 和 (hé) or 与 (yǔ) to indicate who is being distanced from whom.
Examples
- 01自从那次争吵后，他们的关系就变得疏远了。, .Ever since that argument, their relationship has become distant.
- 02工作太忙让我和家人渐渐疏远。.Being too busy with work has caused me to gradually drift apart from my family.
Characters
Common collocations
- 疏远关系to distance a relationship
- 和...疏远...to become distant from...
- 感到疏远to feel alienated
- 关系疏远relationship has become distant
Antonyms
Origin
The character 疏 originally meant to clear waterways or make things less dense, conveying the idea of creating space or distance. Combined with 远 (far/distant), the compound literally suggests 'making distant' or 'creating separation,' which evolved into its current meaning of emotional or social distancing.