How to say to leave in Chinese? Let's learn 3 Chinese words that has the meaning of leaving. 去(qù), 走(zǒu) and 离开(líkāi)

I think most of you know the word 去(qù), which can translate to “to go”. It has the meaning to leave one's place and go elsewhere; to go from the one's side to another. It’s the opposite of the word 来(lái), to come.

我(wǒ)要(yào)去(qù)北京(běijīng)学(xué)汉语(hànyǔ).

I want to go to Beijing to learn Chinese.

下班(xiàbān)以后(yǐhòu)你(nǐ)去(qù)哪儿(nǎr)？Where are you going after work?

-我(wǒ)去(qù)看(kàn)电影(diànyǐng). I am going to watch a movie.

Usually when you use 去(qù), you have to have a destination where to go.

Next word 走(zǒu) this word is originally coming from the action of walking on foot. 

吃(chī)完(wán)饭(fàn)，我们(wǒmen)去(qù)外边(wàibian)走走(zǒuzǒu)吧(ba).

Let’s go for a walk after meal.

电影院(diànyǐngyuàn)不远(bùyuǎn), 走(zǒu)10分钟(fēnzhōng)就(jiù)到(dào)了(le)。

I the movie theater is not far. It’s a 10-minute walk.

It also have the meaning of to leave.

我(wǒ)来(lái)的(de)太(tài)晚(wǎn)了(le)，客人(kèrén)们(men)都(dōu)走(zǒu)了(le).

I came too late. All the guests have left.

王(wáng)经理(jīnglǐ)呢(ne)？Where is Manager Wang?

-他(tā)下班(xiàbān)走(zǒu)了(le)。He is off work and left.

So the difference between 走(zǒu) and 去(qù) is:

去(qù) have a destination. Even if not mentioned, it implies knowing where to go.

走(zǒu) is just leaving here, no matter where to go. 

The third word we are going to talk about it is 离开(líkāi), which also can be translated to leave. But you can put the place or person you are leaving after it. And this departure is more like a long-term or permanent state.

王(wáng)经理(jīnglǐ)呢(ne)？Where is Manager Wang?

If the answer is

-他(tā)走(zǒu)了(le)。The meaning is he is off work and left. He will be back to work tomorrow.

But if the answer is 

-他(tā)离开(líkāi)公司(gōngsī)了(le)。He left the company. More likely means he left the job and won’t be back.

我(wǒ)要(yào)离开(líkāi)家(jiā)，去(qù)外国(wàiguó)留学(liúxué)。I am going to leave home and study abroad. So it’s a long term thing.

And of course, you can also use this word to say to leave a person or a relationship.

我(wǒ)女朋友(nǚpéngyou)要(yào)离开(líkāi)我(wǒ)。My girlfriend is leaving me.

如果(rúguǒ)我(wǒ)离开(líkāi)，你(nǐ)会(huì)想念(xiǎngniàn)我(wǒ)吗(ma)？Will you miss me if I leave?

OK. So let’s do some summary.

When you use 去(qù), you have to have a destination. If don’t, just use 走(zǒu). This is different from English. In English, for example, if you are in a boring party, you can say. Let’s go. Let’s get out of here. In Chinese, you should say，我们(wǒmen)走(zǒu)吧(ba)。You can’t say 我们(wǒmen)去(qù)吧(ba), if you haven’t mentioned where to go in the conversation before. And if you leave some place or someone permanently for good, you can use the word 离开(líkāi). You can put the place or person you are leaving after 离开(líkāi). But for 走(zǒu)，we don’t add anything after it, because it doesn’t matter where to go when you use 走(zǒu), just get out of here. 

我(wǒ)爱(ài)你(nǐ)，别(bié)离开(líkāi)我(wǒ)！I love you, don't leave me!

-我(wǒ)不(bú)爱(ài)你(nǐ)，让(ràng)我(wǒ)走(zǒu)吧(ba)。I don’t love you, let me go.