別(わか)れ

わかれ

noun

parting, farewell

1. parting, farewell, separation

The act of separating or saying goodbye; a departure from someone or something.

友人(ゆうじん)との別(わか)れは辛(つら)かった。

Parting with my friend was painful.

別(わか)れの挨拶(あいさつ)をした。

I said my farewells.

別(わか)れの挨拶(あいさつ) = farewell greeting

出会(であ)いがあれば別(わか)れもある。

Where there are meetings, there are also partings.

A common saying about the nature of relationships

空港(くうこう)での別(わか)れは何度(なんど)経験(けいけん)しても慣(な)れない。

No matter how many times I experience it, I can never get used to saying goodbye at the airport.

卒業式(そつぎょうしき)の日(ひ)、先生(せんせい)と生徒(せいと)たちは涙(なみだ)の別(わか)れを惜(お)しんだ。

On graduation day, the teacher and students shed tears, reluctant to part.

別(わか)れを惜(お)しむ = to be reluctant to part

別(わか)れ is the noun form of the verb 別(わか)れる (to part, to separate). It carries emotional weight, suggesting sadness or significance — stronger than a simple goodbye.

Common patterns

別(わか)れを告(つ)げる: to bid farewell
別(わか)れの言葉(ことば): parting words
別(わか)れの挨拶(あいさつ): farewell greeting
別(わか)れを惜(お)しむ: to be reluctant to part
永遠(えいえん)の別(わか)れ: eternal parting (euphemism for death)
涙(なみだ)の別(わか)れ: tearful farewell

Cultural note

Parting is a significant theme in Japanese culture, especially at 卒業式(そつぎょうしき) (graduation ceremonies) and 送別会(そうべつかい) (farewell parties). The saying 出会(であ)いがあれば別(わか)れもある (where there are meetings, there are also partings) reflects a Buddhist-influenced acceptance of impermanence.

Watch out

分(わ)かれ is a branching or division, as in 分(わ)かれ道(みち) (a fork in the road); 別(わか)れ is a parting between people.

Related Words

Related: 別(わか)れる (verb form)

Compare: 別離(べつり) (parting)

Compare: 惜別(せきべつ) (parting with regret)

Compare: 離別(りべつ) (separation)

Related: 演歌(えんか) (enka (Japanese ballad))

core

Added 2026.1.12 22:34 · Revised 2026.9.30 6:42

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