Learning how to say “miles” in Chinese can be helpful if you are traveling to a Chinese-speaking country or simply interested in expanding your language skills. In this guide, we will explore the formal and informal ways to express “miles” in Chinese, focusing on the standard Mandarin Chinese. Additionally, we’ll provide some useful tips, examples, and regional variations where necessary. Let’s dive in!
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Formal Ways to Say “Miles” in Chinese
In formal contexts, such as official documents, news reports, or academic discussions, the word for “miles” in Chinese is:
1. 公里 (gōng lǐ)
Example: 这个城市离机场有三十公里的距离。(Zhè gè chéngshì lí jīchǎng yǒu sānshí gōnglǐ de jùlí.)
Translation: This city is thirty miles away from the airport.
2. 海里 (hǎi lǐ)
Example: 这艘船已经航行了一千海里。(Zhè sōu chuán yǐjīng hángxíng le yīqiān hǎilǐ.)
Translation: This ship has already sailed one thousand miles.
Informal Ways to Say “Miles” in Chinese
In informal conversations or everyday situations, native Chinese speakers often prefer to use more colloquial expressions instead of the formal terms. Here are a couple of commonly used informal ways to say “miles” in Chinese:
1. 里程 (lǐ chéng)
Example: 今天我骑自行车骑了三十公里的里程。(Jīntiān wǒ qí zìxíngchē qí le sānshí gōnglǐ de lǐchéng.)
Translation: I cycled a distance of thirty miles today.
2. 哩 (lī)
Example: 那家餐厅离这里有三十英里的距离。(Nà jiā cāntīng lí zhèlǐ yǒu sānshí yīng lī de jùlí.)
Translation: That restaurant is thirty miles away from here.
Additional Tips and Regional Variations
While the above terms are widely used in Mandarin Chinese, it’s worth noting that regional variations can exist across different Chinese-speaking areas. Here are some additional tips and alternate phrases you may encounter:
1. 方 (fāng)
In some areas of southern China, particularly in Guangdong and Guangxi provinces, the word “miles” can be expressed using the character 方 (fāng) after the distance in kilometers. This usage originates from the Cantonese language influence in the region.
Example: 直线距离是五十公里方。(Zhíxiàn jùlí shì wǔshí gōnglǐ fāng.)
Translation: The straight-line distance is fifty miles.
2. 公裡 (gōng lǐ)
In Taiwan, the character 裡 (lǐ) is often used instead of 里 (lǐ) to represent “miles” when spelled in pinyin.
Example: 從花蓮到台東有一百公裡的距離。(Cóng Huālián dào Táidōng yǒu yībǎi gōng lǐ de jùlí.)
Translation: The distance from Hualien to Taitung is one hundred miles.
Conclusion
Congratulations on expanding your Chinese vocabulary! In this guide, we covered the various ways to say “miles” in Chinese, ranging from formal to informal expressions. The most commonly used terms are 公里 (gōng lǐ) and 海里 (hǎi lǐ) in the standard Mandarin Chinese. However, keep in mind that regional variations exist, such as 方 (fāng) in southern China and 公裡 (gōng lǐ) in Taiwan.
