別(わか)れ際(ぎわ)

わかれぎわ
noun
moment of parting; time of farewell; parting
1. moment of parting; time of farewell; the instant of separation
The specific moment or time when people part ways or say goodbye. Often refers to the brief period just before or during separation.
別(わか)れ際(ぎわ)に「また会(あ)おう」と言(い)った。
At the moment of parting, I said 'Let's meet again.'
別(わか)れ際(ぎわ)に涙(なみだ)が出(で)た。
Tears came at the moment of parting.
別(わか)れ際(ぎわ)に大切(たいせつ)なことを伝(つた)え忘(わす)れた。
I forgot to tell them something important at the time of parting.

COMPOUND STRUCTURE:
別(わか)れ (parting, from 別(わか)れる) + 際(ぎわ) (edge, moment, brink)

The suffix ～際(ぎわ) indicates a critical moment or boundary:

  • 土壇場(どたんば)/際(ぎわ)の際(ぎわ) - the last moment
  • 瀬戸(せと)際(ぎわ) - critical moment
  • 寝(ね)際(ぎわ) - just before sleeping

GRAMMAR:

  • 別(わか)れ際(ぎわ)に - at the moment of parting
  • 別(わか)れ際(ぎわ)の + noun - parting ~

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 別(わか)れ際(ぎわ)に言(い)う - to say at parting
  • 別(わか)れ際(ぎわ)の挨拶(あいさつ) - parting greetings
  • 別(わか)れ際(ぎわ)の言葉(ことば) - parting words
  • 別(わか)れ際(ぎわ)に手(て)を振(ふ)る - to wave at parting

NUANCE:

Emotionally significant moment. Often appears in:

  • Romantic contexts
  • Family separations
  • Farewells to colleagues/friends
  • Dramatic/literary contexts

SIMILAR ～際(ぎわ) COMPOUNDS:

  • 帰(かえ)り際(ぎわ) - just as leaving
  • 出(で)際(ぎわ) - just as going out
  • 寝(ね)際(ぎわ) - just before sleeping
  • 死(し)に際(ぎわ) - on the verge of death

SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS:

  • 別(わか)れ時(どき) - time of parting
  • 告別(こくべつ) - farewell (formal)
  • 惜別(せきべつ) - reluctant parting (literary)

REGISTER:
Neutral. Natural in both spoken and written Japanese.

general
Added 2026.1.19 22:50
07000/07471_wakaregiwa