Chinese word

离不开

Pronunciation

Pinyinlí bù kāi

Meaning

  • verbcannot do without

Example

现代生活离不开互联网。xiàn dài shēng huó lí bù kāi hù lián wǎng

Modern life cannot do without the Internet.

Illustration for 离不开 (cannot do without)

More examples

学生在学习上离不开老师的帮助。xué shēng zài xué xí shàng lí bù kāi lǎo shī de bāng zhù

Students cannot do without their teacher's help in their studies.

Core concept

A person or thing remains so essential and closely connected that functioning without it is difficult.

Common phrases

  • 离不开手机lí bù kāi shǒu jī

    cannot do without a cell phone

  • 离不开帮助lí bù kāi bāng zhù

    cannot do without help

  • 离不开支持lí bù kāi zhī chí

    cannot do without support

Similar words

需要xū yào: Needing something to reach a goal or deal with a particular situation.
依赖yī lài: Depending on a person or thing when independent action is difficult or impossible.
依靠yī kào: Turning to a person or thing as a source of help or support.
舍不得shě bu de: Feeling unwilling to part with a person or thing because of deep attachment.

Definition in Chinese

用来形容对某人、某物或某种事物的依赖性很强，无法与之分离或在缺少时难以运作。yòng lái xíng róng duì mǒu rén mǒu wù huò móu zhǒng shì wù de yī lài xìng hěn qiáng wú fǎ yǔ zhī fēn lí huò zài quē shǎo shí nán yǐ yùn zuò

Word origin

离不开 (líbùkāi, "cannot do without") joins 离 (lí, "separate") + 不 (bù, "not") + 开 (kāi, "leave") to express being unable to separate, a physical idea extended to dependence.

Usage tips

  • The common sentence pattern places the needed person or thing after the verb, making the source of support easy to identify in fast conversation.

Other meanings

  • cannot part withverb
  • be inseparable fromverb

Opposites

  • 离得开lí de kāican do withoutverb

Related words

Word lists with this word