Lessons 22, 23, 24, 30: The prepositions 离, 从, 往, 对 and 从……到……

Prepositions for distance, starting point, direction, target, and the start and end points of time.

Hanyu textbook · Hanyu 2 · Lesson 22 · Hanyu 2 · Lesson 23 · Hanyu 2 · Lesson 24 · Hanyu 2 · Lesson 30

北京离上海1462公里。

Běijīng lí Shànghǎi yìqiān sìbǎi liùshí'èr gōnglǐ.

Beijing is 1,462 km from Shanghai.

Explanation

The prepositions "离", "从" and "往" can each, together with a place word, go before the verb as an adverbial, showing the place, starting point, direction, etc. of the action. To express distance: 离 + place word. To express a starting point: 从 + location word / place word / time word. To express direction: 往 + location word / place word. You cannot say: *北京从上海1462公里。 *上海从北京1462公里。

The structure "从……到……" is used as an adverbial, showing the start and end of a period of time.

"对" is a preposition; together with the noun for a person, thing or place after it, it serves as an adverbial that shows the target of the action. You cannot say: *我感兴趣书法。 (you must say 我对书法感兴趣).

Structure

1
A 离 Bkhoảng cách / 离từ chỉ nơi chốnV / adj
"离" expresses distance. You cannot say *北京从上海1462公里。
- 北京离上海1462公里。
  Běijīng lí Shànghǎi yìqiān sìbǎi liùshí'èr gōnglǐ.
  Beijing is 1,462 km from Shanghai.
- 上海离北京1462公里
  Shànghǎi lí Běijīng yìqiān sìbǎi liùshí'èr gōnglǐ
  Shanghai is 1,462 km from Beijing
- A：你住的地方离学校远吗？ B：离学校不太远。
  A: Nǐ zhù de dìfang lí xuéxiào yuǎn ma? B: Lí xuéxiào bú tài yuǎn.
  A: Is where you live far from school? B: It's not very far from school.
2
从phương vị từ / nơi chốn / thời gianVverb
"从" expresses a starting point.
- 太阳从东边升起。
  Tàiyáng cóng dōngbian shēngqǐ.
  The sun rises from the east.
- 他从美国来中国。
  Tā cóng Měiguó lái Zhōngguó.
  He came to China from the United States.
- 我们从八点开始上课。
  Wǒmen cóng bā diǎn kāishǐ shàngkè.
  We start class at eight o'clock.
- 玛丽从学校去大使馆。
  Mǎlì cóng xuéxiào qù dàshǐguǎn.
  Mary walks from the school to the embassy.
3
往phương vị từ / nơi chốnVverb
"往" expresses direction.
- 从这儿往东走。
  Cóng zhèr wǎng dōng zǒu.
  From here, go east.
- 我要往那边去，你呢？
  Wǒ yào wǎng nàbian qù, nǐ ne?
  I plan to go that way; what about you?
- 往前一直走就是博物馆。
  Wǎng qián yìzhí zǒu jiù shì bówùguǎn.
  Go straight ahead and you'll reach the museum.
4
从thời điểm bắt đầu到thời điểm kết thúc
"从……到……" is used as an adverbial, showing the start and end of a period of time.
- 我们上午从八点到十二点上课。
  Wǒmen shàngwǔ cóng bā diǎn dào shí'èr diǎn shàngkè.
  In the morning we have class from 8 to 12 o'clock.
- 从七月十号到八月三十一号放假。
  Cóng qī yuè shí hào dào bā yuè sānshíyī hào fàngjià.
  The break is from July 10th to August 31st.
5
Ssubject对người / sự việc / nơi chốnV / adj
The prepositional phrase "对 + noun" is used as an adverbial, showing the target of the action. You cannot say *我感兴趣书法。
- 你对这儿的生活已经习惯了吧？
  Nǐ duì zhèr de shēnghuó yǐjīng xíguàn le ba?
  Have you gotten used to life here?
- 他对我很好。
  Tā duì wǒ hěn hǎo.
  He is very good to me.
- 练气功对身体很有好处。
  Liàn qìgōng duì shēntǐ hěn yǒu hǎochù.
  Practicing qigong is very good for your health.
- 我对书法感兴趣。
  Wǒ duì shūfǎ gǎn xìngqù.
  I'm interested in calligraphy.
- 她对这件事不感兴趣。
  Tā duì zhè jiàn shì bù gǎn xìngqù.
  She isn't interested in this.

Common mistakes

~~北京从上海1462公里~~
correct: 北京离上海1462公里
~~我感兴趣书法 / *我非常感兴趣书法~~
correct: 我对书法(非常)感兴趣
~~老师给我们去参观~~
老师跟我们去参观

Practice

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