千里
Meanings
1
1000 ri; a long distance
Often used figuratively to emphasize great distance or vastness. The ri is an old unit of length (about 3.9 km), so 1000 ri is roughly 3900 km, but the word is used for any very long distance.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
He ran a long distance to return to his hometown.
Usage patterns
- 〈場所〉から千里離れるto be a thousand ri (a great distance) away from a place
I live in a place a thousand ri away from my hometown.
- 千里の彼方a place a thousand ri away; a very distant place
He was delighted by a letter that arrived from a distant place a thousand ri away.
Expressions· 7
- 悪事千里bad news travels fast
- 千里も一里a journey of a thousand miles feels like only one mile (when going to see the one you love)
- 悪事千里を行くbad news travels fast
- 悪事千里を走るbad news travels fast
- 千里の道も一歩からa journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step
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- 千里の行も足下に始まるa journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step
- 虎は千里往って千里還るa parent will do anything for their child