jiǔ bié chóng féng: 久别重逢 - To reunite after a long separation [Contextual Chinese Dictionary]

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====== jiǔ bié chóng féng: 久别重逢 - To reunite after a long separation ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** jiǔ bié chóng féng, 久别重逢, reunite after long separation, long-awaited reunion, Chinese idiom for reunion, meet again after a long time, old friends meeting again, Chinese chengyu.
  * **Summary:** 久别重逢 (jiǔ bié chóng féng) is a poetic and heartfelt Chinese idiom (chengyu) that describes the profound joy of a long-awaited reunion after a significant period of separation. More than just "long time no see," this phrase captures the entire emotional event of meeting an old friend, family member, or lover again. Understanding 久别重逢 offers a glimpse into the cultural importance of long-term relationships in China.
===== Core Meaning =====
<hanziwriter>久别重逢</hanziwriter>
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** jiǔ bié chóng féng
  * **Part of Speech:** Chengyu (成语) / Idiom. It functions as a verb phrase.
  * **HSK Level:** N/A (This is an advanced idiom but is widely understood by native speakers).
  * **Concise Definition:** To reunite with someone after a long period of separation.
  * **In a Nutshell:** This four-character phrase beautifully encapsulates the mixed feelings of joy, surprise, and nostalgia that arise when you meet someone important to you after being apart for a very long time—often years. It emphasizes both the length of the separation (`久别`) and the significance of meeting again (`重逢`).
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **久 (jiǔ):** Means a long time or for a long duration.
  * **别 (bié):** Means to leave, to part, or to separate.
  * **重 (chóng):** Means again, once more, or to repeat. (Note: This is different from the character 重 (zhòng), which means heavy).
  * **逢 (féng):** A more literary character for "to meet" or "to come upon."
When combined, the characters literally translate to "long separation, again meet." This creates a powerful and concise image of a significant reunion, highlighting the journey from parting to meeting once more.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
In Chinese culture, great value is placed on maintaining relationships over long distances and extended periods. `久别重逢` is a testament to this value. Historically, China's vast geography, combined with events like wars, famine, and modern-day economic migration, meant that separations from hometowns and loved ones were a common and poignant part of life. The reunion, therefore, is not just a casual meeting but a deeply meaningful event celebrated in literature, poetry, and film for centuries.
A Westerner might say, "It was so great to have a reunion with my old college friend!" This describes the event. `久别重逢` is more poetic and can act as the verb itself, capturing the emotional essence of the moment. It's the difference between describing a picture and presenting the picture itself. While "long-awaited reunion" is a good translation, it lacks the concise, literary punch of the four-character `chengyu`. The term reflects a cultural appreciation for enduring bonds (`感情 gǎnqíng`) that can withstand the test of time and distance.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
`久别重逢` is considered a somewhat literary term, but it is frequently used in both spoken and written Chinese to add emotional weight to a situation.
  * **In Conversation:** You might use it when describing a recent meeting with a childhood friend you haven't seen in a decade. It conveys a sense of fate and deep emotion.
  * **On Social Media:** It's a perfect caption for a photo posted with an old friend or family member who lives abroad. For example, a picture with a university roommate you haven't seen in five years might be captioned: "与大学室友久别重逢，太开心了！" (A long-awaited reunion with my college roommate, so happy!).
  * **In Media:** The term is common in song lyrics, book titles, and movie scenes to evoke a powerful sense of nostalgia and emotional release.
The connotation is almost always positive and heartfelt. It implies a meaningful relationship that has persisted despite the separation.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 毕业十年后，老同学们终于**久别重逢**。
    * Pinyin: Bìyè shí nián hòu, lǎo tóngxuémen zhōngyú **jiǔ bié chóng féng**.
    * English: Ten years after graduation, the old classmates finally had a long-awaited reunion.
    * Analysis: This is a classic usage, perfect for describing a class reunion. `终于 (zhōngyú)` emphasizes the "at last" feeling.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 看到**久别重逢**的父母，她激动得流下了眼泪。
    * Pinyin: Kàndào **jiǔ bié chóng féng** de fùmǔ, tā jīdòng de liú xiàle yǎnlèi.
    * English: Seeing her parents after such a long separation, she was so moved that she shed tears.
    * Analysis: Here, `久别重逢的父母` acts as an adjective phrase describing the parents she is reuniting with. This shows the term's grammatical flexibility.
  * **Example 3:**
    * 这次旅行最大的收获就是和我的童年好友**久别重逢**。
    * Pinyin: Zhè cì lǚxíng zuìdà de shōuhuò jiùshì hé wǒ de tóngnián hǎoyǒu **jiǔ bié chóng féng**.
    * English: The biggest reward of this trip was reuniting with my childhood friend after a long time.
    * Analysis: This sentence frames the reunion as the most valuable part of an experience.
  * **Example 4:**
    * 我们上次见面还是在高中，这次真是**久别重逢**啊！
    * Pinyin: Wǒmen shàng cì jiànmiàn háishì zài gāozhōng, zhè cì zhēnshi **jiǔ bié chóng féng** a!
    * English: The last time we met was still in high school; this is truly a long-awaited reunion!
    * Analysis: A common exclamation used in conversation at the moment of reunion. The particle `啊 (a)` adds emotional emphasis.
  * **Example 5:**
    * 电影的结尾是男女主角在战后**久别重逢**的感人场面。
    * Pinyin: Diànyǐng de jiéwěi shì nán nǚ zhǔjué zài zhàn hòu **jiǔ bié chóng féng** de gǎnrén chǎngmiàn.
    * English: The end of the movie is a touching scene where the male and female leads reunite after the war.
    * Analysis: This shows how the term is used to describe scenes in media, highlighting its dramatic and literary quality.
  * **Example 6:**
    * 即使多年未见，他们**久别重逢**时依然像从前一样亲密。
    * Pinyin: Jíshǐ duōnián wèi jiàn, tāmen **jiǔ bié chóng féng** shí yīrán xiàng cóngqián yīyàng qīnmì.
    * English: Even though they hadn't seen each other for many years, when they finally reunited, they were as close as ever.
    * Analysis: This sentence emphasizes that the bond of friendship was not weakened by the long separation.
  * **Example 7:**
    * 他从国外回来，就是为了和家人**久别重逢**。
    * Pinyin: Tā cóng guówài huílái, jiùshì wèile hé jiārén **jiǔ bié chóng féng**.
    * English: He came back from abroad just to have a long-awaited reunion with his family.
    * Analysis: The phrase `就是为了 (jiùshì wèile)` highlights the reunion as the sole, important purpose of his return.
  * **Example 8:**
    * 对于漂泊在外的人来说，每一次**久别重逢**都显得格外珍贵。
    * Pinyin: Duìyú piāobó zàiwài de rén lái shuō, měi yī cì **jiǔ bié chóng féng** dōu xiǎnde géwài zhēnguì.
    * English: For people who drift and live far from home, every reunion after a long separation seems especially precious.
    * Analysis: Here, `久别重逢` is used as a noun phrase, meaning "a long-awaited reunion."
  * **Example 9:**
    * 两位老兵在五十年后**久别重逢**，相拥而泣。
    * Pinyin: Liǎng wèi lǎobīng zài wǔshí nián hòu **jiǔ bié chóng féng**, xiāng yōng ér qì.
    * English: The two old veterans reunited after fifty years and wept in each other's arms.
    * Analysis: This example underscores the deep emotional impact possible with this term, especially after a very long separation.
  * **Example 10:**
    * 你能想象那种**久别重逢**的喜悦吗？
    * Pinyin: Nǐ néng xiǎngxiàng nà zhǒng **jiǔ bié chóng féng** de xǐyuè ma?
    * English: Can you imagine the joy of that kind of long-awaited reunion?
    * Analysis: This sentence uses the term to describe a specific type of joy (`喜悦 xǐyuè`), asking the listener to empathize with the powerful feeling.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **Mistake 1: Confusing it with a simple greeting.**
    * A common mistake is to confuse `久别重逢` with `好久不见 (hǎo jiǔ bú jiàn)`.
    * `好久不见` is a greeting, equivalent to "Long time no see!" You say it directly to the person you are meeting.
    * `久别重逢` describes the //event or action// of the reunion itself.
    * **Correct:** 你好！好久不见！(Hello! Long time no see!)
    * **Correct:** 我们这次见面，真算得上是久别重逢。(This meeting of ours can truly be considered a long-awaited reunion.)
    * **Incorrect:** Hello! 久别重逢! (This would be like saying "Hello! To reunite after a long separation!")
  * **Mistake 2: Using it for short separations.**
    * The character `久 (jiǔ)` means "a long time." Using this phrase for a separation of a few weeks or months sounds overly dramatic and insincere. It is typically reserved for separations of at least a year, and more often, several years or even decades.
    * **Incorrect Usage:** 我上个星期没见到你，今天真是久别重逢啊！(I didn't see you last week, today is truly a long-awaited reunion!)
    * **Why it's wrong:** The time frame is far too short, making the usage hyperbolic and awkward.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[好久不见]] (hǎo jiǔ bú jiàn) - The common greeting "Long time no see." It's the phrase that initiates the moment of `久别重逢`.
  * [[团聚]] (tuán jù) - To reunite or gather, used almost exclusively for family. It emphasizes the group coming together, especially for holidays like the Spring Festival.
  * [[重逢]] (chóng féng) - To meet again. This is the second half of the idiom and can be used on its own, but it lacks the emphasis on the "long separation."
  * [[告别]] (gào bié) - To say goodbye or bid farewell. The opposite of reuniting.
  * [[离别]] (lí bié) - To part or separate. A more literary term that focuses on the (often sad) act of separation itself.
  * [[故人]] (gù rén) - An old friend or an acquaintance from the past. This is the type of person you would `久别重逢` with.
  * [[他乡遇故知]] (tā xiāng yù gù zhī) - A classic phrase meaning "to meet an old friend in a foreign land." It describes a specific, joyous type of `久别重逢`.
  * [[破镜重圆]] (pò jìng chóng yuán) - Literally "a broken mirror made whole again." An idiom for a divorced or separated couple getting back together. A very specific, romantic type of reunion.