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再见 (zài jiàn) — goodbye; see you later

Definition

verb
goodbyesee you later

Examples

  • 再见。
    Wǒ men zài jiàn ba.
    Let's say goodbye.
  • 再见！
    Mā ma zài jiàn!
    Goodbye, Mom!
  • 再见？
    Nǐ zài jiàn le ma?
    Have you said goodbye?

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.

再zàiagain
见jiànsee

The idea of 再 (again) with 见 (see) gives seeing each other again.

Characters in this word

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

Open 再 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 見; 见 is its simplified writing.

  • 目目mùeye
  • 卩卩jiékneeling person

The traditional form 見 pairs 目 (eye) with 卩 (kneeling person), showing a kneeling figure with a large eye for a head. The simplified 见 is a later shorthand.

Open 见 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 1500 Most Frequent Chinese WordsHSK 2.0 Level 11000 Most Frequent Chinese WordsGreetings & Politeness2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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