It's so hard to say "goodbye" in Chinese

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From a photo sharing group on Facebook:

The Chinese says:

fēnshǒu

分手

"separate; (bid) farewell; part(ing); part company; break up (with); split up; end a relationship"

Cf. fēnshǒu xìn 分手信 ("break up letter; Dear John letter").

Selected readings

[h.t. rit malors]



7 Comments

  1. lukas said,

    August 9, 2023 @ 3:14 am

    "Sayônara" is only slightly less bizarre.

  2. Taylor, Philip said,

    August 9, 2023 @ 3:48 am

    I embarrassed myself yesterday when I bid a Czech lady "Do widzenia" instead of "Na shledanou" …

    Oh, and should that read "… bade a Czech lady … " ? I don't think I have ever used "bade" in my life, but looking at my earlier "bid" I began to wonder whether I should have used it on this occasion …

  3. Andrew Taylor said,

    August 9, 2023 @ 7:27 am

    It's strange that they couldn't get the English version right..

    "Güle güle" is Turkish, rather charmingly 'Reduplication of güle … literally “while laughing/smiling”.'

    What is the language/script to the right of "Sayônara"?

  4. Peter B. Golden said,

    August 9, 2023 @ 8:57 am

    "Güle güle," said by the person who is staying, is the response to "Allahaısmarladık" [we have commended you to God] said by the person who is leaving.

  5. Taylor, Philip said,

    August 9, 2023 @ 11:08 am

    Andrew — could it be Arabic ? وداعاً (wadaeaan)

  6. KWillets said,

    August 9, 2023 @ 6:29 pm

    A cafe in Guerneville, CA has a similar multi-language/script sign for its bathroom — the Korean version reads 목욕탕 (public bath house ♨️) .

  7. Tom said,

    August 10, 2023 @ 12:39 am

    The Chinese might be a misprinting of the right-hand side of 掰 (bāi), which I've seen in Taiwan to write "bye."

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