Afastar-se vs. distanciar-se
Both afastar-se and distanciar-se translate to to move away or to distance oneself, and they are often interchangeable. However, afastar-se is the most common, general term for physical movement or emotional withdrawal. Distanciar-se is slightly more formal and emphasizes the creating of a gap, separating oneself from an idea, a controversy, or a competitor.
Afastar-se
B1This is the primary verb used for the physical action of stepping back, moving aside to create space, or withdrawing. It is also commonly used to describe leaving a job position, drifting apart in relationships, or taking a break from a situation.
Por favor, afaste-se da porta do comboio.
(Please, move away from the train door.)
Ele decidiu afastar-se da política para cuidar da família.
(He decided to step away from politics to take care of his family.)
O barco afastou-se lentamente do porto.
(The boat slowly moved away from the harbor.)
Sinto que eles se afastaram depois da discussão.
(I feel like they drifted apart after the argument.)
Distanciar-se
B2This verb focuses on the resulting span or interval between two points. It is frequently used metaphorically to show a lack of agreement, to dissociate oneself from a scandal, or in sports contexts when a competitor pulls ahead of the pack.
O atleta conseguiu distanciar-se do segundo classificado.
(The athlete managed to pull away from the runner-up.)
A empresa distanciou-se das opiniões do seu ex-funcionário.
(The company distanced itself from the opinions of its former employee.)
É importante distanciar-se emocionalmente do problema para encontrar uma solução.
(It is important to distance oneself emotionally from the problem to find a solution.)
As nossas opiniões distanciaram-se muito com o passar dos anos.
(Our opinions have grown very far apart over the years.)
Summary
Use afastar-se for general physical movement, stepping back, or leaving a role. Use distanciar-se when you want to emphasize the gap created between you and an idea, a controversy, or a competitor.