Meaning and Usage
"送别" (sòngbié) means to see someone off or bid farewell, often used when someone is leaving for a journey or moving away. It conveys both the act of accompanying someone to say goodbye and the emotional tone of parting.
Common Contexts
It is frequently used in social situations such as going to the train station or airport to say goodbye to friends or family. It also appears in literary contexts, especially poetry, to express the sadness or sentiment of parting.
Collocations and Patterns
- 送别朋友 (sòngbié péngyǒu): to see off a friend
- 送别仪式 (sòngbié yíshì): farewell ceremony
- 送别时 (sòngbié shí): at the time of farewell
Usage Notes
When using 送别, the focus is on the act of farewell and the emotional atmosphere. It is more formal and poetic than simply saying "再见" (goodbye). Avoid confusing it with "送" alone, which means "to send" but lacks the farewell nuance.