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Kanji 離: meanings, readings, and example words.

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Kanji 離: detach, separation, disjoin, digress

Key takeaways

Kanji 離: detach, separation, disjoin, digress. Readings and core meaning.

See vocabulary and examples below.

Kanji at a glance

離
N1

Meaning

detachseparationdisjoindigress

On reading

リ

Kun reading

はな.れるはな.す

Radical

隹

Core meaning / core image

Core meaning: 離

detach, separation, disjoin, digress

Kanji structure breakdown

離

Structure breakdown

离 + 隹

Mnemonic story

Mnemonic story

Imagine a bird (隹) flying far away to escape a mountain beast (离), separating itself from its flock. This character represents the concept of detachment or parting ways. It is frequently used in words like separation, divorce, or distance.

On'yomi and kun'yomi

On reading

リ
  • 距離きょり

    distance / range

  • 分離ぶんり

    separation / detachment / isolation

  • 離婚りこん

    divorce

Kun reading

はな.れる
  • 離すはなす

    separate / part / divide

  • 離れるはなれる

    to be separated / to leave / to go away

Commonly used words

  • 距離
    きょり

    distance / range

  • 分離
    ぶんり

    separation / detachment / isolation

  • 離婚
    りこん

    divorce

  • 離す
    はなす

    separate / part / divide

  • 離れる
    はなれる

    to be separated / to leave / to go away

Example sentences

Example 1

駅までの距離は5キロです。

Translation

The distance to the station is 5 kilometers.

Example 2

距離を取って話しましょう。

Translation

Let's keep some distance while talking.

Example 3

プラスチックとゴミの分離は大事です。

Translation

Separating plastic and trash is important.

Example 4

会社の部門を分離する計画があります。

Translation

There is a plan to separate the company's departments.

Kanji 離: detach, separation, disjoin, digress | Daily Nihongo