从/离
cóng / lí
从 is where the line starts; 离 is the gap between two dots
The picture 从 marks the dot a line sets off from. 离 marks the empty space measured between two dots that both stay put.
Where the picture shows up in 从/离
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the dot the line leaves
我从北京来。
wǒ cóng Běijīng lái
I'm from Beijing.
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the gap between two dots
我家离公司很近。
wǒ jiā lí gōngsī hěn jìn
My place is close to the office.
离 is followed by distance words like 远, 近, 多远 — never by a verb of motion.
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the point time starts at
从九点到六点一直在开会。
cóng jiǔ diǎn dào liù diǎn yìzhí zài kāihuì
I was in meetings from nine right through to six.
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the gap still left
离下班还有一个小时。
lí xiàbān hái yǒu yí ge xiǎoshí
There's still an hour to go before we finish.
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where the route begins
从这儿一直走就到了。
cóng zhèr yìzhí zǒu jiù dào le
Keep going straight from here and you're there.
Came from home is 从家来; far from home is 离家远. Same English word, different picture.