verb / noun HSK 4
to be away from · distance · to separate
Meaning
距 primarily functions as a verb meaning 'to be distant from' or 'to be separated by.' It's commonly used to express physical distance between places or time intervals between events. As a noun, it can mean 'distance' or 'interval,' though it's more often seen in compound words.
Usage
Most frequently appears in the pattern '距...有/多远' (to be X distance from) or '距离' (distance, as a compound). Native speakers use it in both formal writing and everyday speech when discussing spatial or temporal distance. It's less colloquial than 离 (lí) but widely understood.
Examples
- 01这里距市中心大约十公里。.This place is about ten kilometers from the city center.
- 02距离上次见面已经三年了。.It's already been three years since we last met.
Common collocations
- 距离distance
- 距今from now, dating back to
- 相距to be separated by (distance)
- 距...有...to be (distance) from
Antonyms
Origin
Originally depicted a bent leg with a spur, representing the idea of separation or keeping at a distance. The character evolved to mean distance and separation more generally.