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.

Etymology

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

Common patterns

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

Usage

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 words

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.

Related Words

Compare: 惜別(せきべつ) (reluctant parting)

general

Added 2026.1.19 22:50 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

07000/07471_wakaregiwa