The Chinese term 离别 (líbié) is a poignant and deeply evocative noun that refers to the act of parting, separation, or saying farewell, typically for a significant duration or under emotionally weighty circumstances. Unlike the more casual word for leaving, 离开 (líkāi), which can describe simply walking out of a room or departing for a quick errand, 离别 carries a heavy sense of sentimentality, nostalgia, and often a touch of sorrow. It is the 'parting' found in literature, the 'separation' felt when a child leaves for college in a distant land, or the 'farewell' shared between friends who do not know when they will meet again. In the tapestry of Chinese culture, where family and social cohesion are paramount, the concept of 离别 has historically been a central theme in poetry, music, and art, symbolizing the tension between duty and personal attachment.
- Emotional Resonance
- This word is rarely used for trivial departures. It implies a bond being temporarily or permanently stretched by distance. When you use 离别, you are acknowledging the emotional cost of the distance between two entities.
- Formal Contexts
- It is frequently found in written works, speeches, and formal announcements. For instance, a retirement speech or a graduation ceremony often references the 离别 of colleagues or classmates.
- Temporal Aspect
- It often suggests a long-term separation. If you are just going to the store, you wouldn't use this word; if you are moving to another country, this is the perfect term.
在那次伤心的离别之后，他们整整十年没有见面。 (After that sad parting, they didn't see each other for a full ten years.)
In modern usage, while still formal, it appears in songs and dramas to heighten the drama of a scene. It evokes the image of a train station platform, an airport gate, or an ancient pier. The word is composed of two characters: 离 (lí), meaning to leave or be away from, and 别 (bié), meaning to part or differentiate. Together, they create a semantic field of 'separation from the other'. It is a noun that captures the 'moment' of parting as well as the 'state' of being apart.
人有悲欢离合，月有阴晴圆缺。 (People have sorrows and joys, partings and reunions; the moon has its phases of dimness and brightness, waxing and waning.)
- Literary Usage
- In classical poetry, 离别 is often associated with the willow branch (折柳), which was given as a gift to departing friends to symbolize the hope they would stay or return.
离别是为了更好的重逢。 (Parting is for the sake of a better reunion.)
每一次离别都让人成长。 (Every separation makes a person grow.)
- Cultural Symbolism
- Separation is often viewed as a cycle. In the Chinese worldview, the pain of 离别 is balanced by the joy of 团圆 (reunion). One cannot exist without the other.
他不喜欢这种伤感的离别气氛。 (He doesn't like this sentimental atmosphere of parting.)
Ultimately, 离别 is more than just a word for 'bye-bye'. It is a word that encapsulates the weight of human connection and the inevitable distance that life often places between us. Whether it is a student leaving for university, a soldier heading to the front, or a friend moving to a new city, 离别 gives a name to that specific ache of saying goodbye to someone who has become a part of your life.
Using 离别 correctly involves understanding its grammatical role as a noun and its specific collocations. While it can be a verb in high-register Chinese, for most learners at the A2-B1 level, it is safest to treat it as a noun describing the event or the feeling of parting. It often appears as the subject or object of a sentence, or modified by adjectives that describe the nature of the farewell.
- As a Subject
- When 离别 is the subject, it often describes the impact of the separation. Example: '离别是痛苦的' (Parting is painful). Here, the focus is on the inherent quality of the act.
- As an Object
- It frequently follows verbs like 面对 (to face), 经历 (to experience), or 厌恶 (to loathe). Example: '我不喜欢面对离别' (I don't like facing separation).
在机场的离别场面非常感人。 (The parting scene at the airport was very moving.)
One of the most common ways to use 离别 is in the structure '...之际' (at the time of...). For example, '离别之际' means 'at the moment of parting'. This is a very standard way to start a farewell toast or a final letter. It sets a formal and respectful tone. Additionally, 离别 is often paired with temporal markers like '长久的' (long-term) or '短暂的' (brief) to specify the length of the separation.
虽然我们即将离别，但我们的友谊永远不变。 (Although we are about to part, our friendship will never change.)
- Common Modifiers
- Adjectives like 伤感的 (sentimental/sad), 匆匆的 (hurried), or 难忘的 (unforgettable) are often used to describe 离别.
长期的离别让他们更加珍惜在一起的时光。 (Long-term separation made them cherish the time together even more.)
In a more advanced context, 离别 can be part of four-character idioms (Chengyu). For instance, '生离死别' (shēng lí sǐ bié) refers to the most painful types of separation: being separated in life or parted by death. Using such phrases demonstrates a high command of the language and an understanding of the emotional depth the word carries.
他们在那棵老树下依依不舍地离别。 (They parted reluctantly under that old tree.)
- Prepositional Phrases
- You will often see '与...离别' (parting with someone). Example: '他与亲人离别了。' (He parted with his relatives.)
To master this word, practice using it in contexts where there is a clear emotional stake. Think about graduation, moving cities, or the end of a long relationship. By focusing on these 'high-stakes' farewells, the distinction between 离别 and simple 'leaving' will become clear and natural.
In the real world, 离别 is a word that resonates through various channels of Chinese life, from the high-brow halls of literature to the populist lyrics of Mandopop. While you might not hear it used every day in a casual conversation about going to the office, you will certainly encounter it during significant life transitions and in the media that reflects them.
- Pop Music and Ballads
- Chinese pop music is heavily focused on themes of love and loss. Songs frequently use 离别 to describe the end of a romance or the sadness of a long-distance relationship. If you listen to artists like Jay Chou or Eason Chan, the word appears in many of their more melancholic tracks.
- Television Dramas (C-Dramas)
- In period dramas (Wuxia or Xianxia), characters often face long separations due to war, duty, or magical circumstances. The dialogue in these scenes is often heightened, and 离别 is a staple word used by characters to express their grief or resolve.
电视里播放着关于离别的经典电影。 (The TV was playing a classic movie about parting.)
Graduation season in China (typically June) is another time when this word is ubiquitous. Schools and universities will have banners, social media posts, and speeches all centered around the theme of 离别. It is the official word for the transition from being a student to entering society, leaving behind friends and teachers. You will see it in the titles of commemorative photo albums or in the captions of students' final group photos.
这首歌唱出了离别的愁绪。 (This song captures the melancholy of parting.)
- Literature and Poetry
- From the 'Book of Songs' to the works of Lu Xun, 离别 is a foundational concept. In modern literature, it is used to discuss themes of exile, migration, and the changing face of Chinese society.
书中的主人公经历了一次又一次的离别。 (The protagonist in the book experienced one parting after another.)
他把那份离别的情感写进了诗里。 (He wrote that feeling of parting into a poem.)
Finally, in the workplace, 离别 might be used when a long-term leader or a beloved colleague departs. It adds a layer of respect and significance to their exit. In summary, wherever there is a 'big' goodbye that involves a transition of state or a deep emotional connection, you will hear or see the word 离别.
Learning 离别 can be tricky because English speakers often want to use it as a direct substitute for the verb 'to leave'. However, in Chinese, the usage is much more specific and restricted. Here are the most common pitfalls and how to avoid them.
- Mistake 1: Using it for daily departures
- Incorrect: '我要离别公司回家了' (I am parting from the company to go home). This sounds overly dramatic, as if you are never coming back. Correct: '我要下班回家了' or '我要离开公司了'.
- Mistake 2: Confusing it with 'Separation' in a legal sense
- In English, 'separation' can refer to a married couple living apart before a divorce. In Chinese, the term for this is 分居 (fēnjū). Using 离别 in this context would sound like a poetic description of their parting, not a legal or domestic status.
Incorrect: 他们离别了两个月，准备离婚。
Correct: 他们分居了两个月，准备离婚。
Another common error is treating 离别 as a simple transitive verb like 'to leave [a place]'. While '离别家乡' (parting from one's hometown) is acceptable in literature, in most modern contexts, 离别 is treated as an intransitive action or a noun. You don't usually '离别' a person directly in casual speech; you '与 [someone] 离别'.
Incorrect: 我离别了我的朋友。
Correct: 我和朋友离别了。 (I and my friend parted.)
- Mistake 3: Overusing it in casual speech
- Using 离别 too often can make you sound like a character in a 19th-century novel. For modern, everyday goodbyes, stick to 再见 (zàijiàn) or 拜拜 (bàibài).
Incorrect: 我们在超市离别吧。
Correct: 我们在超市分开吧。 (Let's split up/go our separate ways at the supermarket.)
Finally, be careful with the word 别 (bié) on its own. While it's part of 离别, on its own it often means 'don't' (e.g., 别走 - don't go). Don't assume that every time you see 别 it refers to parting. The context of 离 + 别 is what gives it the specific meaning of separation.
To truly understand 离别, it is essential to compare it with its synonyms and related terms. Each word in the 'leaving/parting' family has a distinct flavor and specific usage criteria.
- 离开 (líkāi) vs. 离别 (líbié)
- 离开 is the most common, neutral word for 'to leave'. It can be used for leaving a room, a job, or a person. It focuses on the physical movement away from a point. 离别, on the other hand, is emotional and focuses on the event of parting and the subsequent period of separation.
- 告别 (gàobié) vs. 离别 (líbié)
- 告别 means 'to bid farewell' or 'to say goodbye'. It is an active process of expressing the goodbye. You can '告别' a person or an era. 离别 is the state or event of the separation itself. You might '告别' your friends before the '离别' occurs.
- 分手 (fēnshǒu) vs. 离别 (líbié)
- 分手 specifically refers to a romantic breakup or two people physically going in different directions after hanging out. While a breakup involves 离别, the word 离别 is much broader and more formal.
他们在那场离别后，彻底分手了。 (After that parting, they broke up completely.)
Other related words include 辞别 (cíbié), which is a very formal or archaic way to say goodbye, often used when leaving a superior or a host, and 永别 (yǒngbié), which means 'to part forever', usually implying death. Knowing these distinctions prevents you from using a word that is too strong or too weak for the situation.
向过去告别，迎接新的开始。 (Say farewell to the past and welcome a new beginning.)
- 分离 (fēnlí)
- 分离 is very similar to 离别 but is often used in a more technical or physical sense, such as the separation of parts or the physical distance between people over time. 离别 is more focused on the 'moment' of farewell.
长期的分离并没有削弱他们的感情。 (Long-term separation did not weaken their feelings.)
In summary, while 离开 is your daily 'go-to' verb, 离别 is a specialized noun for those moments in life that require a higher level of emotional expression. By understanding its neighbors, you can choose the exact word that fits the weight of the goodbye you are describing.
Exemples par niveau
离别是很伤心的。
Parting is very sad.
Simple subject-predicate-adjective structure.
我们明天离别。
We part tomorrow.
Used here as a formal verb.
他不爱离别。
He does not love parting.
Using 'love' (爱) with a noun object.
这是一次小的离别。
This is a small parting.
Modified by an adjective and measure word.
离别的时候，请微笑。
When parting, please smile.
Using '...的时候' to indicate time.
再见就是离别吗？
Is 'goodbye' the same as parting?
Simple question structure.
他们在那儿离别。
They part there.
Indicating location of the action.
我怕离别。
I fear parting.
Verb 'fear' (怕) with noun object.
离别是为了下次见面。
Parting is for the sake of the next meeting.
Using '为了' to show purpose.
他在机场经历了离别。
He experienced parting at the airport.
Verb '经历' (experience) with noun '离别'.
这是我们最后的离别。
This is our final parting.
Modified by '最后的' (final).
离别之情很难表达。
The feeling of parting is hard to express.
Using '之' as a formal possessive.
我不喜欢这种离别的气氛。
I don't like this atmosphere of parting.
Modified by '这种' and '气氛'.
离别那天，下着大雨。
On the day of parting, it was raining hard.
Setting a temporal context.
毕业是一场盛大的离别。
Graduation is a grand parting.
Metaphorical use of '离别'.
他们匆匆离别，没说再见。
They parted in a hurry without saying goodbye.
Using '匆匆' (hurriedly) as an adverb.
长久的离别让他们的感情变淡了。
Long-term separation made their feelings fade.
Subject-verb-object-complement structure.
在离别之际，他送给我一本书。
At the moment of parting, he gave me a book.
Using the formal '...之际' (at the time of).
离别虽然痛苦，但也是成长的机会。
Although parting is painful, it is also an opportunity for growth.
Using '虽然...但...' (although... but...).
他用诗歌来记录那次深刻的离别。
He used poetry to record that profound parting.
Using '用...来...' (use... to...).
我们都不想面对这次痛苦的离别。
None of us want to face this painful separation.
Using '面对' (to face) with an adjective-noun phrase.
离别后，他每天都给家里写信。
After parting, he wrote home every day.
Using '离别后' as a time clause.
离别并不代表永远不再见。
Parting doesn't mean never seeing each other again.
Using '并不代表' (doesn't necessarily mean).
他忍受着离别的孤独。
He endured the loneliness of separation.
Verb '忍受' (endure) with a complex noun object.
人生充满了各种形式的离别。
Life is full of various forms of parting.
Using '充满了' (filled with).
那场离别成了他心中永远的痛。
That parting became a permanent pain in his heart.
Using '成了' (became) to show a result.
在文学作品中，离别往往被赋予浪漫色彩。
In literary works, parting is often given a romantic hue.
Passive voice '被赋予' (to be endowed with).
他不得不离开家乡，去远方经历离别。
He had to leave his hometown and go far away to experience separation.
Using '不得不' (have no choice but to).
离别之际的叮嘱，至今仍在他耳边回响。
The exhortations at the time of parting still echo in his ears today.
Complex subject with '至今' (until now).
离别并不总是悲伤的，有时也是解脱。
Parting is not always sad; sometimes it is a relief.
Using '不总是' (not always).
他试图通过工作来忘记离别的愁绪。
He tried to forget the melancholy of parting through work.
Using '通过...来...' (through... to...).
离别考验着两个人的信任与耐心。
Separation tests the trust and patience of two people.
Using '考验' (to test) as the verb.
古人常以折柳相赠，以表离别之情。
Ancient people often gave willow branches as gifts to express the feeling of parting.
Using '以...相...' and '以表...' (literary structure).
离别不仅是空间的距离，更是心灵的隔阂。
Parting is not just a distance in space, but a barrier in the soul.
Using '不仅是...更是...' (not only... but moreover...).
他在作品中深刻探讨了生离死别的哲学意义。
In his work, he profoundly explored the philosophical meaning of life-and-death separation.
Using the idiom '生离死别'.
离别之苦，非亲历者难以体会其万一。
The bitterness of parting is hard for those who haven't experienced it to understand even a fraction.
Using '非...难以...' (classical negative structure).
纵使离别多年，他依然清晰地记得那个午后。
Even after being parted for many years, he still clearly remembers that afternoon.
Using '纵使' (even if/even though).
诗人笔下的离别，往往寄托了深沉的家国情怀。
The parting described by poets often carries deep feelings for home and country.
Using '寄托' (to place/entrust feelings).
离别是生命中不可或缺的旋律，虽然低沉却动人。
Parting is an indispensable melody in life, though low-pitched, it is moving.
Metaphorical use with '不可或缺' (indispensable).
他以一种近乎冷漠的态度面对这次重大的离别。
He faced this major separation with an almost indifferent attitude.
Using '近乎' (nearly/almost).
离别在禅宗看来，不过是因缘际会的必然结果。
In Zen Buddhism, parting is merely the inevitable result of the meeting of causes and conditions.
Using '在...看来' (from the perspective of).
这种旷日持久的离别，最终消解了他们所有的执念。
This long-drawn-out separation eventually dissolved all their obsessions.
Using '旷日持久' (long-drawn-out) and '消解' (to dissolve).
离别之于人生，犹如落叶之于秋天，既是终点也是起点。
Parting is to life as falling leaves are to autumn; it is both an end and a beginning.
Using '...之于...犹如...之于...' (complex analogy).
他试图在文字中重构那场被时光掩埋的离别。
He tried to reconstruct in writing that parting buried by time.
Using '重构' (reconstruct) and '掩埋' (buried).
离别的静默，往往比任何言语都更具震撼力。
The silence of parting is often more powerful than any words.
Using '更具' (possess more).
在那场浩劫中，无数家庭经历了惨绝人寰的离别。
In that catastrophe, countless families experienced tragic separations that were beyond human endurance.
Using '惨绝人寰' (extremely tragic).
他将离别视为一种灵魂的洗礼，而非单纯的失去。
He viewed parting as a baptism of the soul, rather than a simple loss.
Using '视为' (to regard as).
离别所带来的虚无感，促使他开始了漫长的哲学思考。
The sense of nihilism brought by separation prompted him to begin long philosophical reflections.
Using '促使' (to prompt/spur).
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有点
A1Un peu; quelque peu. Utilisé avant un adjectif pour exprimer un sentiment légèrement négatif.
一点
A1Un petit peu; une petite quantité de quelque chose.
可恶
A2Détestable ; odieux. Utilisé pour exprimer une forte aversion ou de la colère.
心不在焉
A2Être distrait ou préoccupé; avoir l'esprit ailleurs.
接受地
A2Il a écouté les critiques de manière réceptive.
成就感
B1Le sentiment d'accomplissement que l'on ressent après avoir réussi quelque chose de difficile.
撒娇
A2To act like a spoiled child; to act cute.
上瘾
B1Développer une dépendance à quelque chose, souvent de manière malsaine, rendant difficile l'arrêt.
沉迷
A2Il est tellement accro aux jeux vidéo qu'il en oublie de manger.
敬佩
B1Admirer; respecter profondément. Utilisé pour exprimer une grande estime pour le caractère ou les actions de quelqu'un.
