Japanese word

距離

Pronunciation

Romajikyori

Meaning

  • noundistance

Example

学校までの距離は一キロです。gak kō ma de no kyo ri wa ichi ki ro de su

The distance to the school is one kilometer.

Illustration for 距離 (distance)

More examples

駅からホテルまでの距離を地図で確認します。eki ka ra ho te ru ma de no kyo ri o chi zu de kaku nin shi ma su

I check the distance from the station to the hotel on a map.

Core concept

Captures how far apart two points, places, or things are.

Common phrases

  • 距離を置くkyo ri o o ku

    keep one's distance

  • 距離を測るkyo ri o haka ru

    measure the distance

  • 距離を縮めるkyo ri o chiji me ru

    shorten the distance

Similar words

間隔kankaku: The space separating repeated objects or points in a series.
遠さtōsa: The degree to which a place or thing is far away.
道のりmichinori: The length of a route from one place to another.

Definition in Japanese

二つの地点や物の間がどれほど離れているかを示す長さ。futa tsu no chi ten ya mono no aida ga do re ho do hana re te i ru ka o shime su naga sa

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese word 距離 (kyori) is formed from 距 (kyo, "distance") and 離 (ri, "separation"), referring to separation between points.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, 距離を置く (kyori o oku) means avoiding close involvement with someone or something.

Other meanings

  • intervalnoun

Opposites

  • 近さchikasaclosenessnoun

Related words

  • 距離感kyorikansense of distancenoun

Word lists with this word