諺語 · a single proverb
送君千里，終須一別
Simplified: 送君千里，终须一别
What does 送君千里，終須一別 (sòng jūn qiān lǐ zhōng xū yī bié) mean?
送君千里，終須一別 (sòng jūn qiān lǐ zhōng xū yī bié) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "escort you a thousand li, must eventually part." In use it means: No matter how far you accompany someone, there must eventually be a parting; all goodbyes are inevitable. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Metal note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Dog.
Literally: "escort you a thousand li, must eventually part."
The reading
The road of accompaniment is long and then it ends, no matter how many thousand li were traveled together. The parting is not a failure of the companionship but its natural end, and what was given along the thousand li does not depart with the person. What love deposited in the journey is not returned with the farewell.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Traditional Chinese folk saying (common in literary and social contexts)
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 Friendship, Trust & Speech, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Dog, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 送君千里，終須一別 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 送君千里，終須一別 (sòng jūn qiān lǐ zhōng xū yī bié) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Traditional Chinese folk saying (common in literary and social contexts). 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 送君千里，終須一別?
In Mandarin it is sòng jūn qiān lǐ zhōng xū yī bié. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 送君千里，終須一別 aloud in Mandarin.