Usage note
公里是用来测量长距离的距离，比如从一个城市到另一个城市的距离。
gōng lǐ shì yòng lái qiáng cè cháng jù lí de jì chǐ, rú pǐn cóng yī gè chéng shì dào qìng gè chéng shì de jì chǐ。
Kilometer is used to measure long distances, such as the distance between two cities.
Context note
公里常用于描述城市之间的距离，或者在地图上标注路程长度。
gōng lǐ cháng yòng yú miáo shù chéng shì zhī jiān de jì chǐ, huò zhě zài dì tú shàng bāo zhù lù chéng gǎng cháng dù。
Kilometer is commonly used to describe the distance between cities or to mark the length of a journey on a map.
5 examples
北京到上海的距离大约是1200公里。
běi jīng dào shàng hǎi de jù lí dà yuē shì 1 2 0 0 gōng lǐ。
The distance from Beijing to Shanghai is about 1200 kilometers.
从我家到学校的距离是5公里。
cóng wǒ jiā dào xué xiào de jù lí shì 5 gōng lǐ。
The distance from my home to school is 5 kilometers.
这条高速公路全长360公里。
zhè tiáo gāo sù gōng lù quán cháng 3 6 0 gōng lǐ。
This expressway is a total of 360 kilometers long.
他们开车走了100公里才到达目的地。
tā men kāi chē zǒu le 1 0 0 gōng lǐ cái dào dá mù dì dì。
They drove for 100 kilometers before reaching their destination.
每天他骑自行车往返学校大约需要骑行25公里。
měi tiān tā qí zì xíng chē wǎng fǎn xué xiào dà yuē xū yào qí xíng 2 5 gōng lǐ。
Every day, he rides his bicycle to and from school about 25 kilometers.
5 mini stories
小明家住在离市中心10公里的地方。
xiǎo míng jiā zhù zài lí shì zhōng xīn 1 0 gōng lǐ de dì fāng。
Xiaoming's family lives in a place that is 10 kilometers away from the city center.
他们计划开车去另一个城市，全程大约450公里。
tā men jì huà kāi chē qù lìng yí gè chéng shì， quán chéng dà yuē 4 5 0 gōng lǐ。
They plan to drive to another city, which will be about 450 kilometers long.
小红每天骑自行车上学，她觉得这20公里的距离正好合适。
xiǎo hóng měi tiān qí zì xíng chē shàng xué， tā jué de zhè 2 0 gōng lǐ de jù lí zhèng hǎo hé shì。
Xiaohong rides her bicycle to school every day. She thinks this 20-kilometer distance is just right for her.
他们从北京出发去天津，全程130公里。
tā men cóng běi jīng chū fā qù tiān jīn， quán chéng 1 3 0 gōng lǐ。
They started from Beijing and went to Tianjin, which was a total of 130 kilometers long.
小华每天骑自行车往返学校，总共骑行25公里。
xiǎo huá měi tiān qí zì xíng chē wǎng fǎn xué xiào， zǒng gòng qí xíng 2 5 gōng lǐ。
Xiaohua rides his bicycle to and from school every day, covering a total distance of 25 kilometers.
Mini dialogue
跑步距离
A
你今天跑了多远？
Nǐ jīntiān pǎo le duō yuǎn?
How far did you run today?
B
我跑了三公里。
Wǒ pǎo le sān gōnglǐ.
I ran three kilometers.
学校多远
A
你家离学校有多远？
Nǐ jiā lí xuéxiào yǒu duō yuǎn?
How far is your home from school?
B
大概两公里，走路就能到。
Dàgài liǎng gōnglǐ, zǒulù jiù néng dào.
About two kilometers; I can walk there.
Related words and contrasts
similar
千米
qiān mǐ
kilometer
千米 is another way to say kilometer. They mean exactly the same.
related
米
mǐ
meter
One kilometer equals 1000 meters.