HSK 2 grammar · new HSK syllabus
从, 到, 往, 离: from, to, towards, distance
从…到… from…to…, 往 towards, A 离 B 很近 = A is close to B.
Structure
- 从 A 到 B
- 往 + direction + verb
- A 离 B + 近 / 远
How it works
从 A 到 B marks a start and end, for places or times: 从北京到上海, 从八点到十二点.
往 + direction shows which way: 往前走 go straight ahead, 往左 to the left.
离 talks about distance: 我家离学校很近 = my home is close to school. Note the order: A 离 B, then 近 or 远.
Examples
-
从我家到公司要半个小时。
Cóng wǒ jiā dào gōngsī yào bàn gè xiǎoshí.
It takes half an hour from my home to the office.
-
我们从八点上课到十二点。
Wǒmen cóng bā diǎn shàngkè dào shí èr diǎn.
We have class from eight to twelve.
-
往前走，然后往左。
Wǎng qián zǒu, ránhòu wǎng zuǒ.
Go straight ahead, then turn left.
-
我家离学校不远。
Wǒ jiā lí xuéxiào bù yuǎn.
My home isn’t far from school.
-
机场离这儿有多远？
Jīchǎng lí zhèr yǒu duō yuǎn?
How far is the airport from here?
Words in these examples (28)
| 从 | cóng | from | HSK 2 |
| 我 | wǒ | I; me | HSK 1 |
| 家 | jiā | home; family; (measure word for shops and companies) | HSK 1 |
| 到 | dào | to arrive; to go to | HSK 1 |
| 公司 | gōngsī | company; firm | HSK 1 |
| 要 | yào | to want; will; should | HSK 1 |
| 半 | bàn | half | HSK 1 |
| 个 | gè | (general measure word) | HSK 1 |
| 小时 | xiǎoshí | hour | HSK 1 |
| 我们 | wǒmen | we; us | HSK 1 |
| 八 | bā | eight | HSK 1 |
| 点 | diǎn | o'clock; (measure word) a little | HSK 1 |
| 上课 | shàngkè | to have class; to start class | HSK 1 |
| 十 | shí | ten | HSK 1 |
| 二 | èr | two | HSK 1 |
| 往 | wǎng | toward | HSK 2 |
| 前 | qián | in front; before; ago | HSK 1 |
| 走 | zǒu | to walk; to leave | HSK 2 |
| 然后 | ránhòu | then; after that | HSK 3 |
| 左 | zuǒ | left | HSK 2 |
| 离 | lí | away from (distance), as in 离家很近 | HSK 2 |
| 学校 | xuéxiào | school | HSK 1 |
| 不 | bù | not; no | HSK 1 |
| 远 | yuǎn | far | HSK 2 |
| 机场 | jīchǎng | airport | HSK 2 |
| 这儿 | zhèr | here | HSK 1 |
| 有 | yǒu | to have; there is | HSK 1 |
| 多 | duō | many; much; (in questions) how | HSK 1 |
Common mistakes
-
✗我家从学校很近。
✓我家离学校很近。
Distance uses 离, not 从.
-
✗走往前。
✓往前走。
往 + direction comes before the verb.
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 这儿到车站要走十分钟。
2. 超市 我家很近。
3. 你 右边看。