諺語 · a single proverb
久別重逢
Simplified: 久别重逢
What does 久別重逢 (jiǔ bié chóng féng) mean?
久別重逢 (jiǔ bié chóng féng) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語). Word for word it reads "reuniting after a long separation." In use it means: The particular joy of seeing someone again after a long time apart; the moment when absence converts into presence. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Fire note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Pig.
Literally: "reuniting after a long separation."
The reading
The years between the last goodbye and this hello did not disappear. They are still there, stacked between you, making the hello heavier and sweeter than any ordinary greeting. The hug lasts longer because the absence was longer, and both of you know that the length of the hug is the measurement of the gap.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Common literary and folk expression; deeply embedded in Chinese culture
Sits beside
Keep reading
Return to the Proverb Pond to draw another of the eighty-seven, or hear one read aloud. Read the rest of its chapter in Home, Family & Roots, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Pig, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 久別重逢 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 久別重逢 (jiǔ bié chóng féng) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語), and it comes from Common literary and folk expression; deeply embedded in Chinese culture. It is living Chinese heritage, given here with per-character pinyin and its source so you can trust the line, not a phrase invented in English.
How do you pronounce 久別重逢?
In Mandarin it is jiǔ bié chóng féng. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 久別重逢 aloud in Mandarin.