離
離·separate, leave, part from, detach
- On-yomi
- リ
- Kun-yomi
- はな(れる)はな(す)
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 距離 | きょり | distance |
| 離婚 | りこん | divorce |
| 分離 | ぶんり | separation |
| 離れる | はなれる | to leave, to become separated |
Example sentences
駅から家までの距離は近い。
えきからいえまでのきょりはちかい。
The distance from the station to my house is short.
故郷を離れて十年になる。
こきょうをはなれてじゅうねんになる。
It has been ten years since I left my hometown.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Mixing 離す (to separate two things) with 話す (to speak) — both are はなす
- Reading 距離 as きょうり — it is きょり, with a short first syllable
Memory aid
Picture it
A bird 隹 on the right, lifting away from what is on the left: it takes off and the distance opens up.
Vocabulary using this kanji
- 距離きょりdistance
- 隔離かくりisolation, quarantine
- 分離ぶんりseparation
- 支離滅裂しりめつれつincoherent, inconsistent
- 離婚りこんdivorce
- 離れるはなれるto leave, be apart
- 離すはなすto separate, let go
- 隔離するかくりするto isolate, to quarantine
- 離陸するりりくするto take off (aircraft)
- 引き離すひきはなすto pull apart; to separate; to outdistance
- 目を離すめをはなすto take one's eyes off
- 手が離せないてがはなせないto be tied up; busy
Quick check
1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5
What does the kanji 離 mean?