Learning Chinese with departure words

One of the first verbs we learn in Chinese is 去, "to go". This covers a great many everyday situations, such as "I'm going to Beijing", "I went to eat lunch" etc. But how about when the focus is more on the departure itself?

我们最开始学到的一个中文动词就是"去 to go (qù)"。这个字可用在诸多日常的情境，比如"我要去北京 (I'm going to Beijing)"、"我去吃饭 (I went to eat lunch)"等等。不过，要是遇到更为强调"离开"本身的语境该怎么办呢？

This post covers the differences between 去, 走, _离开, 出发 and 出国, all of which can be used when you're taking leave of one sort or another, from exiting a room to leaving the country.

本文介绍"去，走，离开，出发，出国"之间的区别，这些字词均可以在表达各种"离开"意思的时候使用，包括离开房间、出国等。

去 / qù

As the below examples show, with the verb 去 (to go) you can specify a noun or another verb afterwards, to explain where you'll be going or what you'll be doing when you go. Example sentences:

以下的例子里，你都可以用"去"具体说明跟在后面的名词或者另一个动词，可以对你将去的地方或者你走的时候将做的事进行解释。例句：

明天我会去广州

Míngtiān wǒ huì qù guǎngzhōu

I will go to Guangzhou tomorrow

上个周末我去看望我妈妈了

Shàng ge zhōumò wǒ qù kànwàng wǒ māmā le.

Last weekend I went to visit my mother.

我要去食堂吃午饭

Wǒ yào qù shítáng chī wǔfàn.

I'm going to the canteen to eat lunch.

走 / zǒu

走 means "to leave" and places emphasis on the actual departure. It's about generally making your exit, so unlike 去 you cannot specify a place or person after this verb. Example sentences:

"走"的意思是"to leave"，更加强调"实际的离开"。它通常是关于你的离开，因此不像"去"，你不可以在这个动词后面具体说明地点或者人。例句：

我们走吧.

Women zǒu ba.

Let's leave.

他刚走了.

Tā gāng zǒu le.

He just left.

我先走了.

Wǒ xiān zǒu le.

I'm leaving.

离开 / líkāi

离开 also means "to leave", but unlike 走 this verb implies permanence. You can leave a person, or leave a city to move elsewhere. With 离开 you can specify a place, person, company/job after this verb. Example sentences:

"离开"也是"to leave"的意思，不过和"走"不一样，这个动词暗示永久离开的意思。你可以说"离开某人"或者"离开城市移居他处"。你可以在"离开"后面具体说明一个地点、人物、公司或者职位。例句：

不要离开我。我爱你!

Bùyào líkāi wǒ. Wǒ ài nǐ!

Don't leave me. I love you!

月末我会离开公司.

Yuèmò wǒ huì líkāi gōngsī.

I'm leaving the company at the end of the month.

自从他离开北京，我再也没有见过他.

Zìcóng tā líkāi Běijīng, wǒ zài yě méiyǒu jiànguò tā. 

I haven't seen him since he left Beijing.

出发 / chūfā

出发 means to start out or set off. It's another verb that emphasizes the departure, but only in the context of going on a trip or journey etc. Example sentences:

"出发"的意思是"start out"或"set off"。这个是另一个可以用来强调"离开"的词，不过只能在"去旅行"或"开始行程"的情境下使用。例句：

你整理好了吗？ 明天我要早些出发.

Nǐ zhěnglǐ hǎole ma? Míngtiān wǒ yào zǎo xiē chūfā.

Are you all packed? I want to start out early tomorrow.

这次旅行我们计划了很久。终于到了出发的时间了.

Zhè cì lǚxíng wǒmen jìhuàle hěnjiǔ. Zhōngyú dàoliao chūfā de shíjiānle.

We've been planning this trip for so long. Finally it's time to set off.

我们出发时并没有预计到这么多问题.

Wǒmen chūfā shí bìng méiyǒu yùjì dào zhème duō wèntí.

When we set off, we didn't anticipate so many problems.

出国 / chūguó

This means to leave a country, go abroad or emigrate. There is definitely a sense of permanence here too. Example sentences:

这个词的意思是"离开国家"、"到国外"或者"移民"。这个词也有"永久性"的意味。例句：

我 打算 出国 留学

I intend to study abroad.

她和她丈夫出国了.

She and her husband left the country.