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临别 (lín bié) — at parting; just before saying goodbye

Definition

临别 is used as an adjective-like modifier meaning 'at the moment of parting' — typically pairs with nouns like 赠言, 礼物, 合影. It is more literary than 别时 or 分手时.

verb
at partingjust before saying goodbye

Examples

  • 临别，。
    lín bié Shí, tā sòng le wǒ yí fèn zhēn guì de lǐ wù.
    At parting, he gave me a precious gift.
  • 临别，。
    lín bié Qián, tā men yì qǐ pāi le zuì hòu yì zhāng zhào piàn.
    Before parting, they took a final photo together.
  • 临别。
    lín bié Zèng yán ràng dà jiā dōu liú xià le yǎn lèi.
    The parting words made everyone shed tears.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

临línabout to
别biéparting

临 means about to, and 别 means parting, so 临别 describes the moment just before goodbye.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 臨; 临 is its simplified writing.

For the traditional form 臨, 人 is a person, 臣 is an eye, and 品 is objects, showing a person looking down at objects.

Open 临 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 別; 别 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 別 pairs 冎 (bone) with 刀 (knife), showing a knife cutting up bone and flesh. The simplified 别 is a shorthand, so its parts are not the historical components.

Open 别 →
Appears in
Greetings & Politeness

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