久别重逢

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: jiǔ bié chóng féng
• English Translation: Reunion after a long separation
• Idiom Composition: 「久」（A long time; duration）＋「别」（To part; to be separated）＋「重」（Again; once more (pronounced chóng in this context)）＋「逢」（To meet; to encounter）
• Meaning: To meet again after being apart for a long time. It is generally used in positive contexts to describe the joy and emotion of reuniting with friends, family, or loved ones.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「久别重逢」 contains the following nuances:

• The Passage of Time: The character 久 (jiǔ) is essential; this idiom is not used for short absences of a few days or weeks, but for significant periods of time.
• Emotional Depth: Whether the meeting is accidental or planned, the term implies a heavy emotional component, such as deep nostalgia or overwhelming happiness.

3. Usage

「久别重逢」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Reuniting with friends or relatives: The most common usage, expressing the happiness of seeing old friends or family members after a long time.
  • Example:「老同学久别重逢，大家都有说不完的话。」
    （Old classmates reunited after a long separation, and everyone had endless things to talk about.)
• Literary or dramatic descriptions: Often used in novels or dramas to describe a climactic, emotional reunion scene.
  • Example:「这对恋人在战乱结束后终于久别重逢，激动得热泪盈眶。」
    （The lovers finally reunited after a long separation following the end of the war, moved to tears of joy.)
• Greetings and letters: Used as a warm greeting to set a sentimental tone when meeting someone after a long interval.
  • Example:「咱们是久别重逢，今天一定要好好喝一杯！」
    （Since this is a reunion after such a long time, we must have a good drink together today!)

Additional Examples:

1. 久别重逢的感觉既熟悉又陌生。
   （The feeling of reuniting after a long separation was both familiar and somewhat strange.）
2. 这次聚会让我们体验到了久别重逢的喜悦。
   （This gathering allowed us to experience the joy of meeting again after a long time.）
3. 虽然是久别重逢，但他看起来一点也没变。
   （Although it was a reunion after a long separation, he didn't seem to have changed at all.）
4. 没有什么比亲人久别重逢更让人感动的了。
   （Nothing is more moving than a reunion after a long separation between family members.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• In Chinese culture, human relationships and the concept of 情 (qíng) or 'emotional bonds' are highly valued. Using 久别重逢 (jiǔ bié chóng féng) instead of a simple 'long time no see' highlights the weight of the relationship and the 'destiny' or 缘 (yuán) that brought the people back together.
• While examples of this phrase appear in Qing Dynasty (清代) literature such as the novel The Flower in the Sea of Sin (孽海花), it is considered a standard idiomatic combination rather than a story based on a specific historical fable.
• The phrase is versatile and can be used in both formal writing and daily conversation, though it carries a more dramatic and sentimental nuance than the common greeting 好久不见 (hǎo jiǔ bú jiàn).

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 阔别已久 (kuò bié yǐ jiǔ): To be separated for a very long time. Unlike the main idiom, this focuses more on the duration of the absence rather than the act of reuniting.
  • 旧雨重逢 (jiù yǔ chóng féng): A reunion with an old friend. 旧雨 (jiù yǔ), literally 'old rain,' is a literary metaphor for an old friend.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 天各一方 (tiān gè yī fāng): To be at opposite ends of the sky; used to describe people who are far apart and unable to meet.
  • 不辞而别 (bù cí ér bié): To leave without saying goodbye; to depart without taking one's leave.link
  • 视同陌路 (shì tóng mò lù): To treat someone as a stranger.link
  • 素不相识 (sù bù xiāng shí): To be complete strangers.link

6. Summary

久别重逢 (jiǔ bié chóng féng) describes a touching reunion after a lengthy period of separation. More than just a casual greeting like "long time no see," it emphasizes the deep joy, nostalgia, and emotional weight of seeing someone significant again after many years.