Meaning
离别 refers to the act of parting or saying goodbye, especially when separation is emotional or for a significant period. It carries a more formal or literary tone than casual words for 'goodbye' and often implies sadness or reluctance about the separation.
Usage
This word is commonly used in formal, literary, or emotional contexts. It appears frequently in poetry, songs, and written narratives about separation. In everyday speech, people more often use 分开 (fēn kāi) or simply 再见 (zài jiàn). 离别 emphasizes the emotional weight of parting rather than just the physical act of leaving.
Examples
- 01离别的时候，她眼里含着泪水。, .When parting, she had tears in her eyes.
- 02经历过多次离别之后，他学会了珍惜相聚的时光。, .After experiencing many partings, he learned to cherish the time spent together.
Characters
Common collocations
- 离别之苦the pain of separation
- 生离死别parting in life or death (separation or bereavement)
- 离别时刻moment of parting
- 难舍离别reluctant to part
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters individually carry meanings related to separation. 离 means to distance oneself or depart, while 别 means to part or differentiate. Together they form a compound emphasizing the act and emotion of parting.