Bedeutung
The act of saying goodbye or a parting event.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The 'Season of Parting' (wakare no kisetsu) is March. This is when school years end and company transfers happen. It is a time of mixed emotions, often celebrated with 'owakare-kai' (farewell parties). When leaving a company, it is customary to give a formal 'owakare no aisatsu' (farewell greeting) to each department. This ensures that the 'wa' (harmony) is maintained even after departure. The term 'owakare-shiki' is sometimes used for a non-religious memorial service where friends and family can say their final goodbyes without traditional Buddhist rites. Classical literature often uses the imagery of 'wakare' at dawn (ariake no wakare). Lovers would part as the sun rose, a theme that has influenced modern J-Pop lyrics.
Use it for pets too
When a pet passes away, Japanese people often use 'owakare' to describe the final goodbye, showing the deep bond.
Don't over-use 'o'
In very casual settings, just 'wakare' is fine, but 'owakare' is safer for learners to avoid sounding blunt.
Bedeutung
The act of saying goodbye or a parting event.
Use it for pets too
When a pet passes away, Japanese people often use 'owakare' to describe the final goodbye, showing the deep bond.
Don't over-use 'o'
In very casual settings, just 'wakare' is fine, but 'owakare' is safer for learners to avoid sounding blunt.
The 'Sayonara' nuance
Remember that 'Sayonara' can sound like you'll never meet again. 'Owakare' is more about the act of parting than the duration of the absence.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'owakare'.
そろそろ（ ）の時間です。
The polite noun form 'owakare' is used before 'no jikan' (time of...).
Which situation is most appropriate for 'owakare'?
When would you use 'owakare'?
'Owakare' is used for significant partings like graduations.
Complete the dialogue.
A: {明日|あした}、アメリカに{帰|かえ}ります。 B: そうですか。（ ）は{寂|さび}しいですね。
The context is someone leaving for another country, making 'owakare' the natural choice.
Match the phrase to the context.
Match '{最後|さいご}のお{別|わか}れ' to the correct setting.
'Saigo no owakare' (The final goodbye) is a standard term for funerals.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
When to use Owakare
Life Events
- • Graduation
- • Retirement
- • Moving
Relationships
- • Breakups
- • Long-distance
- • Death
Formal
- • Speeches
- • Letters
- • Ceremonies
Aufgabensammlung
4 Aufgabenそろそろ（ ）の時間です。
The polite noun form 'owakare' is used before 'no jikan' (time of...).
When would you use 'owakare'?
'Owakare' is used for significant partings like graduations.
A: {明日|あした}、アメリカに{帰|かえ}ります。 B: そうですか。（ ）は{寂|さび}しいですね。
The context is someone leaving for another country, making 'owakare' the natural choice.
Match '{最後|さいご}のお{別|わか}れ' to the correct setting.
'Saigo no owakare' (The final goodbye) is a standard term for funerals.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenNo, you can use it for places (a town you're leaving) or even objects (an old car or house).
No, that's grammatically incorrect. You should say 'O-sewa ni narimashita' (Thank you for taking care of me) or 'Shitsurei itashimasu'.
The 'o' makes it more polite and emotional. 'Wakare' alone is more neutral or clinical.
Yes, it is a common euphemism for death in formal contexts, like 'the final goodbye'.
You can say 'owakare-kai' or the more formal 'soubetsukai'.
Yes, 'kareshi to owakare shita' is a common way to say you broke up with your boyfriend.
The basic meaning is A1, but the nuanced uses in ceremonies are more advanced.
Yes, it is written as {お別|おわか}れ.
Very often! Look for it in graduation or departure scenes.
No, that would be confusing. Use 'mata ashita' (see you tomorrow) instead.
Verwandte Redewendungen
{別|わか}れる
builds onTo separate / To break up
{サヨナラ|さよなら}
similarGoodbye
{送別会|そうべつかい}
specialized formFarewell party
{再会|さいかい}
contrastReunion
{別|わか}れぎわ
similarThe moment of parting
