离 (lí) - Meaning, Stroke Order, Words & Examples

Q: What does 离 (lí) mean in Chinese?

The Chinese character 离 (lí) means "to leave; away from; to part". It is an HSK Level 2 character, with 10 strokes and the radical 禸.

Q: How do you write 离 stroke by stroke?

离 has 10 strokes. The radical is 禸. Follow the standard stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. Practice with stroke animation to build muscle memory.

Q: What's the difference between 离 and 禹?

离 (lí) and 禹 look similar but differ in meaning and usage. Check the radical and stroke count to tell them apart.

Q: What mistakes do learners make writing 离?

Common mistake: incorrect stroke order or miswriting the radical 禸. Pay attention to the proportion between components — keep the radical compact.

Q: What common words use 离?

Common words containing 离 include: 离开 (lí kāi) — to leave; to depart; 距离 (jù lí) — distance; 离婚 (lí hūn) — divorce.

How to Write 离

The character 离 (lí) is written with 10 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 禸 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

Meaning & Pronunciation

离 is pronounced lí in Mandarin Chinese. It means to leave; away from; to part.

As an HSK Level 2 character, 离 is among the first characters beginners learn.

Common Words with 离

离开 lí kāi

to leave; to depart

距离 jù lí

distance

离婚 lí hūn

divorce

Example Sentences

他明天离开北京。

tā míng tiān lí kāi běi jīng

He is leaving Beijing tomorrow.

学校距离我家很近。

xué xiào jù lí wǒ jiā hěn jìn

The school is very close to my home.

他们去年离婚了。

tā men qù nián lí hūn le

They got divorced last year.

Similar Characters

禹 yǔ

禺 yú

禼 xiè

Practice Writing 离 (lí)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 离 with real-time feedback.

App Store ▶ Google Play

Frequently Asked Questions about 离

What does 离 (lí) mean in Chinese?

How do you write 离 stroke by stroke?

What's the difference between 离 and 禹?

What mistakes do learners make writing 离?

What common words use 离?

How to Write 离 (lí)