永别了
yǒngbié le
The English phrase 'goodbye forever' is translated into Chinese as 永别了 (yǒngbié le).
永别了 is an extremely heavy and dramatic phrase. It is typically used in the context of death or a definitive, irreversible severance of a relationship, signaling that two people will never see each other again.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 永 meaning 'forever', 别 meaning 'to part ways/say goodbye' and 了 acting as a particle indicating a change of state or completion.
Which one should you use?
Unlike the common 再见, which implies a future meeting, 永别了 explicitly states that there will be no future meeting.
How do you pronounce it?
yǒngbié le
Did you know?
- Because 永别了 is so heavy, using it in a casual argument to mean 'I am done with you' can be perceived as a literal curse or a threat of death rather than just a breakup.
- While English speakers might say 'goodbye forever' during a dramatic breakup, a Chinese speaker would more likely use 再也不见, which literally means 'never see you again'.
- In ancient Chinese poetry, the theme of 别 (parting) was so central that it created an entire genre of 'parting poems' designed to express the pain that 永别了 summarizes.
Example conversation
Two people are parting ways permanently at a train station.
- 佳怡 Jiayi浩然，我们再也不会见面了。Hàorán, wǒmen zài yě bú huì jiànmiàn le.Haoran, we will never see each other again.
- 浩然 Haoran我知道，这是最后的时刻。Wǒ zhīdào, zhè shì zuìhòu de shíkè.I know, this is the final moment.
- 佳怡 Jiayi永别了，请保重。Yǒngbié le, qǐng bǎozhòng.Goodbye forever, please take care.
- 浩然 Haoran你也是，佳怡。Nǐ yě shì, Jiāyí.You too, Jiayi.
