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March 24, 2026
公里gōnglǐ(gong1li3)
公里 (gōnglǐ) refers to a unit of measurement for distance, equivalent to one thousand meters. It is commonly used in both everyday conversation and official contexts when discussing travel distances or geographical measurements.
Strokes11Frequency#3790DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In China, distance is frequently expressed in kilometers in both urban and rural settings, reflecting the metric system's adoption. Road signs typically indicate distances in kilometers, making it essential for navigation.
Memory Tip
Think of the character 公 (gōng) as representing 'public' or 'shared', like public transportation that often measures distance in kilometers. The second character, 里 (lǐ), looks like a person standing with arms spread wide, imagining the vast distance they are covering in kilometers.
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AI Study Notes for 公里
Usage Notes
Be mindful to use 公里 in a context that requires measuring distance. Common collocations include '行驶公里' (xíngshǐ gōnglǐ) meaning 'to drive a distance in kilometers'. Avoid confusing it with 米 (mǐ), which means meters.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 公里 connects with other measurement-related vocabulary like 米 (mǐ) and 厘米 (límǐ). Focus on using it in sentences that describe distances to reinforce its usage.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use the term 米 (mǐ) when they mean 公里 (gōnglǐ). For example, saying '我走了五米' (wǒ zǒule wǔ mǐ) instead of '我走了五公里' (wǒ zǒule wǔ gōnglǐ) when discussing a longer distance.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 公里
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公里 (gōnglǐ) refers to a unit of measurement for distance, equivalent to one thousand meters. It is commonly used in both everyday conversation and official contexts when discussing travel distances or geographical measurements.
When to use 公里
Be mindful to use 公里 in a context that requires measuring distance. Common collocations include '行驶公里' (xíngshǐ gōnglǐ) meaning 'to drive a distance in kilometers'. Avoid confusing it with 米 (mǐ), which means meters.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use the term 米 (mǐ) when they mean 公里 (gōnglǐ). For example, saying '我走了五米' (wǒ zǒule wǔ mǐ) instead of '我走了五公里' (wǒ zǒule wǔ gōnglǐ) when discussing a longer distance.
Write 公里
公
里
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Grammar Patterns of 公里
公里 functions as a measure word. Place it between a number/demonstrative and the noun it counts (一本书, 这个人). Different categories of nouns require different measure words. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
