离
lí · HSK 2
distant/apart from
🚪➡️ sounds like 'Lee' leaving — to depart, be apart from
离 means distant or apart from. Common in 离开 (líkāi, to leave) and 距离 (jùlí, distance). The 'lí' sound echoes English 'leave' — a handy verbal hook for departure and separation.
离 — top 亠 + 凶 + 禸 (animal track)
Originally depicted a long-tailed bird caught in a net, from which the early sense 'oriole' arose. The character was later borrowed phonetically for the unrelated verb meaning 'to leave' or 'be apart from,' which became its dominant modern usage. The original bird sense faded out of everyday use.